Darwin soldier cops fine after submitting misleading travel claim

A Darwin soldier who pocketed more than $1500 after submitting a misleading travel claim has had her $2400 fine cut by two thirds after an official review.

Private Jessica Rachel Tibbitts pleaded guilty in the Defence Force Magistrates Court at Robertson Barracks to one count of obtaining financial advantage.

A DARWIN soldier who pocketed more than $1500 after submitting a misleading travel claim has had her $2400 fine cut by two thirds after an official review.

Private Jessica Rachel Tibbitts pleaded guilty in the Defence Force Magistrates Court at Robertson Barracks to one count of obtaining financial advantage late last year.

The court heard Tibbitts submitted a travel request form to claim reimbursement for a trip to visit family in Sydney, saying she would travel by car.

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The request was approved and Tibbitts received a direct payment of $1524.40 to cover her costs but then instead travelled to Brisbane with her partner and flew to Sydney at her own expense.

A judgment summary released by the court says if Tibbitts had submitted an amended application that included her revised travel plans she would have still been entitled to “some form of travel allowance” which would likely have included the cost of her flights.

The summary says while the maximum penalty for the offence is 12 months in jail, Tibbitts conduct was not the most serious example of it and there was no suggestion of any dishonesty on her part.

“Personal circumstances of the offender were taken into consideration including the fact that she had been in a dysfunctional relationship with another very young ADF member,” it reads.

“In consequence of that relationship she is now the mother of an infant, and is raising the child on her own.

“Given the personal circumstances of the offender, her guilty plea, and in particular because there was no allegation of dishonesty, it was determined that the punishment be by way of a fine.”

The summary says general deterrence was an important principle in sentencing as Defence personnel were expected to know their entitlement obligations and their obligations to report a change in circumstances.

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The court initially handed Tibbetts a $2400 fine but all Defence Force Magistrates Court rulings are subject to an automatic review which upheld the conviction but reduced the fine to $800.