Dianne Marie Chinn pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud

An unemployed daughter was seen celebrating while leaving court after being busted stealing thousands of dollars from her elderly mother. Watch the video.

A daughter who ripped off her elderly mum almost $30,000 has avoided going to prison or having to pay any of the money back.

Dianne Marie Chinn, 54, was seen with her hands in the air and hugging a supporter after she walked free from Maryborough District Court on Tuesday.

She pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud.

Judge Tony Moynihan said Chinn had been providing care for her mother when she used her Westpac bank card to withdraw cash, incur fees and make transactions without her mother’s authority or knowledge.

“Those transactions caused the complainant a financial detriment of $26,496,” he said.

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In addition, Chinn had dishonestly obtained money by impersonating her mother on the phone on five occasions, Mr Moynihan said.

During those calls, Chinn organised for Centrelink to advance payments of her mother’s pension, which she then withdrew in cash amounts when the payments were placed into her mother’s bank account.

The money advanced was $4200 and Chinn withdrew $3110 of those funds in cash, without her mother’s knowledge.

Dianne Marie Chinn, 54, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud when she appeared before Maryborough District Court on Tuesday.

Chinn’s mother was 74 years old and had “significant” disabilities, Mr Moynihan said.

“It goes without saying that saying that you acted in a gross breach of trust,” he said.

Chinn’s mother had suffered “loss and harm” and had been adversely affected as a result of the offending, Mr Moynihan said.

Chinn, who represented herself in court, had no prior criminal history and had expressed remorse and co-operated with the authorities.

She had been employed as a cleaner but was currently unemployed, the court was told.

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Chinn lived with her partner and received Centrelink payments.

She had submitted a letter to the court telling of the care she had provided to her mother and some of the costs she had incurred.

Mr Moynihan said given her age, lack of criminal history and lack of contact with her mother now, Chinn was unlikely to reoffend.

He said Chinn’s employment prospects were uncertain and he was satisfied he should not make an order for compensation because she did not have adequate means to pay it.

Chinn was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended immediately with an operational period of two years.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Dianne Marie Chinn pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud