Compulsive gambler Karen Rea Halliday ‘gifted’ herself $23,800 in Lotto tickets

A 55-year-old supermarket employee who ripped her employer off of more than $23,000 in Lotto tickets cited a gambling addiction for her offending.

The Toowoomba woman racked up $23,800 in Lotto tickets for which she hadn’t paid.

A 55-year-old Toowoomba woman who ripped her employer off of $23,800 in “gifting” herself Lotto tickets has been handed a wholly suspended jail term.

Karen Rea Halliday had no criminal history at all but had fallen into gambling addiction, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

She had been working for IGA Newtown when between March 24, 2018, and May 26, 2019, she had on at least 55 occasions entered Lotto tickets for which she had not paid, police prosecutor Cameron Francis told the court.

In an unsophisticated approach to the offending, Halliday had simply pressed the button to provide herself with multiple entries of Lotto tickets for which she did not pay.

Mr Francis said the total loss amount was calculated at $23,881.71.

When spoken to by police, Halliday told officers she had won about $300 along the way.

No compensation had been paid, Mr Francis said.

Halliday pleaded guilty to one count of fraud – dishonestly causing detriment by employee.

Her barrister Wes Seewald his client had no criminal history whatsoever and was remorseful and embarrassed by her offending.

After her arrest, she had been diagnosed with major depression submitting that she was suffering from mental health illness at the time, he said.

As a result of the offending, Halliday had been sacked and she hadn’t worked since but hoped to rejoin the workforce soon, Mr Seewald said.

Magistrate Howard Osborne sentenced Halliday to 12 months in jail but ordered the whole term be suspended forthwith but to hang over her head for three years.

Halliday was ordered to pay restitution of $23,808.71.