Renee Ferguson fronts Hobart Magistrates Court amid Cricket Tasmania stealing charges

A defence lawyer has told a Hobart court how Renee Ferguson’s involvement in a high profile case with an Australian cricket captain has been “extremely stressful” for her.

A defence lawyer has told a Hobart court how Renee Ferguson’s involvement in a high profile case with an Australian cricket captain has been “extremely stressful” for her.

Renee Ferguson appeared in court for contest mention on Thursday on multiple counts of stealing and two counts of dishonestly acquiring a financial advantage.

The 48-year-old woman has pleaded not guilty to the allegations that she stole thousands of dollars in cash, and fraudulently obtained a Cricket Tasmania junior and platinum membership worth $705, and a $339 Hobart Hurricanes family membership.

Defence lawyer Greg Barns said Ms Ferguson faced mental health struggles.

“She has become a high profile person in the context of the Australian media for some period now, in fact in the lead-up to the Australian cricket captain matters,” Mr Barns said.

Renee Ferguson outside the Hobart Magistrates Court. Picture: Chris Kidd.

Prosecutor Jayson Taws told the court Ms Ferguson had worked as an administration officer at Blundstone Arena, Bellerive and serviced Ticketek sales.

He said Ms Ferguson was training to assist the membership officer with handling cash, cheque and Eftpos transactions for membership fees and recording these transactions on daily takings sheets.

“On numerous occasions Ms Ferguson has received (cash) into respective Cricket Tasmania accounts but then signed the taking sheet to indicate she’d not received the cash,” Mr Taws claimed.

“CCTV shows the defendant take cash and slide it under the computer stand.

“She moves other sheets and cash under the stand and at the end of the day pulls everything out and takes it out to the back room.”

The prosecutor claimed footage showed Ms Ferguson with her wallet, appearing to flick through cash notes.

. Picture: Julia Santos.

He said she was confronted by Cricket Tasmania about the discrepancies on November 30, 2017.

“The defendant was recorded on CCTV shortly (afterwards) to add receipts together before going to lunch and then returning and claiming to have located the cash,” Mr Taws alleged.

“She then returned the cash in $50 denominations.”

Ms Ferguson resigned on December 5 that year.

Renee Ferguson (LHS) outside the Hobart Magistrates Court. Picture: Chris Kidd.

Other allegations were that she had taken out Cricket Tasmania memberships for herself and her family without paying for them.

The woman was arrested at Bellerive Police Station in May 2018 after she declined to be interviewed.

Defence lawyer Greg Barns said there were flaws in the prosecution’s case.

“We say that there have been inferences drawn, conclusions made by someone who has bookkeeping experience,” he said.

RENEE FERGUSON

Deputy Chief Magistrate Michael Daly said it was difficult to gauge a reasonable sentence indication, as multiple allegations of stealing needed to be proved.

Mr Taws indicated several witnesses would be called if the matter went to hearing, including the former Cricket Tas CEO, the accountant, the membership officer, and a Tasmania Police sergeant.

All parties agreed to explore the possibility of home detention as a punishment if Ms Ferguson was to be found guilty.

Mr Daly adjourned proceedings to reappear next Thursday, where a sentence indication will be given.