$83k fraud in store

Former Coles worker stole cash to pay off mortgage

A TRUSTED worker stole more than $80,000 from her long-term Tablelands employer to help pay a huge mortgage.

Marina Louise Stewart had worked for Coles for 27 years, rising to the position of officer in charge at the Mareeba store. She was the only person who had access to the office safe.

But in September 2015, after 45 years as a law-abiding citi- zen, Stewart began stealing money, from sealed bags containing the cash register takings, before placing the bags in an Armaguard safe.

The Cairns District Court was told that her husband had lost his FIFO job and the pair had a $3100 a month mortgage.

Over 19 months Stewart stole $83,500. She adjusted store accounts to conceal her offending, which only stopped in April last year after she was caught on CCTV.

“She explained she had not entered manual clearances for the money stolen on that occasion as was discovered by the records,” Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald said.

“She also told (police) that no-one was in a position to know that there was missing money from the cash office safe in particular because … no one checked the safe she had under her control.”

Stewart pleaded guilty to stealing by clerks/servants. Judge Leanne Clare said the offending was serious and general deterrence was important.

She was ordered to spend 10 months of a three-and-a-half year sentence behind bars and a conviction was recorded. Stewart broke down and cried onto her husband’s shoulder before she was led away by police.

Defence barrister James Sheridan described his client as a dutiful wife, mother and daughter, who had taken it upon herself to care for her elderly parents in their failing health.

“They were simply trying to make ends meet,” Mr Sheridan said.

He told the court his client would face public shame when she returned to Mareeba after serving time.

“This is your first and only conviction so it appears that you managed to live a law abiding life for 45 years,” Judge Clare said.