Olivia Rose Rodgers sent to prison, appeal dismissed
A Tassie make-up artist has appealed her jail sentence for scamming $65,000 from an insurance company and breaching the trust of her friends and family. DETAILS >>
Police & Courts
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A make-up artist’s attempt to appeal her jail sentence has been dismissed, after she scammed $65,000 from an insurance company and breached the trust of her unsuspecting friends and family.
Olivia Rose Rodgers, 32, appeared before Chief Justice Alan Blow on Monday morning at the Supreme Court of Tasmania for the Judgement of her appeal against a two-month sentence.
At a Hobart Magistrates Court appearance in July, Chief Magistrate Catherine Geason had sentenced Rodgers to nine months jail, suspending seven months of that sentence for five years, and had ordered her to pay fines upwards of $1300.
Rodgers had pleaded guilty to 62 counts of dishonestly acquiring a financial advantage.
The crimes had been committed between January 2016 and July 2017 while Rodgers was working as a sales consultant and claims processor for insurance provider Bupa.
Chief Justice Blow told the court on Monday the punishment handed down by Ms Geason was reasonable.
“It wasn’t manifestly excessive,” Chief Justice Blow said.
Chief Justice Blow upheld Rodgers’ two-month prison sentence and ordered her to pay costs.
Ms Geason said at a court appearance in July Rodgers had processed fraudulent insurance claims on behalf of her family and friends using an elaborate method.
Rodgers had transferred benefits into family and friends’ accounts, then would make up an invoice and would pretend the money had been sent to them by mistake.
She would then ask them to transfer this money back to her.
“You significantly breached the trust of not only your employer, but also your family and friends,” Ms Geason said in July.
The Magistrate said Rodgers previously told community corrections she was experiencing financial hardship and needed the money.
Ms Geason said although Rodgers had “regularly exceeded” her credit card limits, the insurance worker and makeup artist had been able to service her debts but had chosen not to.
“You had an income in excess of $139,000,” Ms Geason said.
“You were living beyond your means.”
Bank statements revealed Rodgers had spent money on takeaway, jewellery, travel reservations, clothing, beverages and hotel accommodation, even holidaying in Bali and Sydney.
Ms Geason said Rodgers had fully repaid the debt to Bupa, but the Magistrate told Rodgers “you can’t buy a reduction in your sentence”.
Ms Geason said psychologist findings indicated the Moonah makeup artist had developed remorse since the offending and had experienced a generalised anxiety disorder and body dysmorphic disorder.
She said Rodgers’ desire to buy things and make herself feel better did not excuse “systemically using” her close family and friends in a “serious ongoing breach of trust”.
Rodgers was taken into custody on Monday.
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