Melbourne accountant who stole more than $2m from Gotye and other musicians jailed

An accountant who stole more than $2m from some of Australia’s most well-known musicians and restaurateurs has been jailed for six years.

Damien Luscombe, 38, was a partner and business manager at accounting firm White Sky when he began transferring money – that should have gone to his client’s bank accounts – into his own, the county court in Melbourne heard.

His victims included performers Gotye, Angus and Julia Stone, and Peking Duk as well as the owners of Melbourne restaurants Mr Miyagi and The Meatball and Wine Bar.

The court was told some of the affected restaurateurs had to sell their businesses and homes to make ends meet while Luscombe pocketed millions.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Wouter “Wally” De Backer, who goes by the stage name Gotye, said Luscombe had caused him a great deal of personal stress.

“All that said, I forgive Damien and I hope he can find more interesting and productive things to do in the future,” De Backer’s statement to the court read.

In sentencing Luscombe on Wednesday, county court judge George Georgiou said he had betrayed the trust of his victims.

“You were defrauding them of their money while purporting to be their friend,” the judge said.

Between 2011 and 2022, Luscombe made at least 337 false documents to facilitate 239 fraudulent transactions, the court heard. He would either doctor legitimate invoices or create fake ones with the billing bank details changed to his personal Commonwealth Bank account.

Luscombe also created false emails purporting to be from clients or their managers requesting payments, again

using his personal bank account information.

His senior role meant only his signature was required to authorise the documents.

In total, Luscombe took $2,166,036.29 over the 11-year period, the court heard.

Georgiou accepted that Luscombe committed his crimes to fund his gambling addiction but said it was not an excuse.

“You had ample opportunity to reflect on the wrongfulness of what you were doing and seek professional help,” the judge said.

“You did not do so.”

He jailed Luscombe for six years, but he will be eligible for parole after three years and nine months.

• In Australia, Gambling Help Online is available on 1800 858 858. The National Debt Helpline is at 1800 007 007. In the UK, support for problem gambling can be found via the NHS National Problem Gambling Clinic on 020 7381 7722, or GamCare on 0808 8020 133. In the US, call the National Council on Problem Gambling at 800-GAMBLER or text 800GAM.