REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Saturday, March 5, 2005

STELLA Sciacca told of her 12 months in prison and her reluctance to leave jail because of the temptations on the outside.

Jailed as a self-confessed poker machine addict after pleading guilty to fraud, Mrs Sciacca walked from prison into the arms of her husband, former councillor Joe Sciacca.

Stella Sciacca was released after serving the 12 months of a four-year prison term for fraud.

“I’m feeling a bit numb right now, to tell the truth,’’ said Mrs Sciacca, who had her hair styled and a glass of champagne just a few hours after being released, her first ‘treats’ in 14 months.

“In a way I didn’t want to go, to leave (the jail), this morning. I think that comes back to me being scared, having been in a confined world for over a year.

“There are temptations outside but I am firmly committed to Gamblers Anonymous and what it can provide to people.

“The Twelve Step program has been my saviour. I am now determined to take each day as it comes. I like myself a lot better now.

“I am ready to go forward in my life.”

Just 10 minutes after being released from prison, Mr Sciacca told her the news that her father, portrayed as a bully during her sentencing, had been hospitalised for three months, suffering a stroke.

After being estranged from him for over a decade, Mrs Sciacca now intended to visit him.

On that day the previous year, Stella Sciacca was sentenced to four years’ jail when she pleaded guilty to defrauding her employer of almost $300,000.