Simona’s plea falls on deaf ears

FORMER Wests Tigers player Tim Simona yesterday begged a magistrate not to convict him for ripping off a children’s cancer charity but his attempts were futile.

In a raw and emotional letter, Simona pleaded with the court to dismiss his charge, believing he had been punished enough after losing his NRL career. “I kindly plead with the court to dismiss my charge as I have already suffered and have learnt my lesson,” he said in a letter tendered to Campbelltown Local Court.

“I understand that my actions are very serious and I am ashamed and embarrassed.

“I have realised that it was the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life.”

Magistrate Ian Guy convicted Simona and placed him on an 18-month good behaviour bond for the “cruel hoax on members of the community”. The punishment came after Simona pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining $6600 by auctioning signed club jerseys on Facebook.

Simona claimed proceeds from the sale of at least 12 Tigers jerseys would be donated to Camp Quality, but instead pocketed the money to fuel a drug and gambling addiction.