Bellbowrie bookkeeper sentenced over prolonged theft from workplace

A Bellbowrie bookkeeper and father-of-two, who ‘succumbed to temptation’ has had his day in court. See what happened.

Anthony James Zerella was sentenced on April 19 2023.

A Bellbowrie bookkeeper caught pilfering a large sum of money from his former employer claimed he was “living above his means”.

Anthony James Zerella, 49, faced Ipswich District Court on April 19 and pleaded guilty to a single charge of theft, which amounted to $11,027.40 taken from Qld Steel House Frames in Carole Park.

The court heard that between June 4, 2018 and January 6, 2020 he had repeatedly used his position as bookkeeper to take sick days he was not entitled to and it was in this time he obtained the money.

In September 2020 an external accountant flagged a series of suspicious transactions from the business to Mr Zerella with the company, and he was confronted about the theft.

He admitted to taking the money and offered to pay the sum back in full saying that he had been ‘living above his means’.

His employment was terminated and the theft was investigated by police, leading to his arrest.

Mr Zerella currently operates his own bookkeeping business, but Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren was assured that he had no access to the accounts or actual funds belonging to any clients.

The judge described the offending as “inherently a breach of trust” and queried Mr Zerella’s ability to keep himself from reoffending.

“If someone succumbs to dishonesty in those circumstances, then even the otherwise good character he has, its self-evident the temptation overcame him,” he said.

A full restitution was made to Qld Steel House Frames through Mr Zerella’s legal representative.

He was sentenced to a total of two years’ imprisonment wholly suspended.

Originally published as Bellbowrie bookkeeper sentenced over prolonged theft from workplace