Sport thefts couple sentenced to prison
A COUPLE who stole more than $200,000 from the bank accounts of two Darwin sporting groups over a four-year period to fund gambling and alcohol addictions were jailed for three years.
Ricky and Naomi Finn had access to both the South Darwin Rugby League Club and South Darwin Sporting League online banking facility while holding positions of power within the two organisations. The couple had been married for 18 years but have now separated, the NT Supreme Court heard.
Justice Peter Barr told the court the Finns “lived and breathed” South Darwin Rugby League for 26 years of volunteering and fundraising for the club.
Both individuals had issues with gambling and alcohol when the pair transferred sums of money into their own account and withdrew cash from FORGET your rabbits, dogs and cats, RSPCA Darwin is now a temporary home for Bentley the pig.
The first pig to grace the yards of the rescue shelter in Berrimah, three-month-old Bentley is now on the hunt for a forever home after he had to be surrendered.
RSPCA Darwin shelter manager Anne Swarbrick said Bentley was brought up from NSW to his former home in Palmerston and although he had council approval, the neighbours weren’t so keen on the noise.
“He’s a tame, friendly pig who loves his food and loves the wet season mud,” Ms Swarbrick said.
Bentley is in foster care but he’s looking for a home that ticks all the boxes.
“They have to have the right enclosure, adequate food, make sure he fits around council regulations and that the neighbours are happy to have a pig next door because we don’t want him to end up back here,” she said.
“He also needs a good amount of mud to coat his skin so he doesn’t get sunburnt.”
Bentley comes desexed, with a birth certificate and at a cost of $100.
If you’re interested in adopting Bentley, give RSPCA Darwin a call on 8984 3795. Darwin pubs. In total, the pair stole more than $190,000 from South Darwin Rugby League and $9995 from the South Darwin Sporting League.
Justice Barr said Mrs Finn, 44, had taken steps to address her issues and to repay the stolen amount, but Mr Finn, 48, had not.
“In relation to Mrs Finn she has made serious endeavours to change her ways and has truly accepted responsibility for her conduct and embraced a course to repay the amount of money stolen,” Justice Barr said. “Mr Finn still has done nothing and continues to minimise his role in the offending and not accept his responsibility for it.”
He said the majority of the funds had been paid back and ordered the outstanding $22,000 owed to both clubs to be repaid.
A victim impact statement from South Darwin Rugby League vice-president Craig Carter said the theft had drained the club of financial resources, volunteers and destroyed the club’s reputation.
“The revelation of these offences has resulted in friendships being broken, stress on volunteers and volunteers stepping down,” the statement read.
Justice Barr sentenced both offenders to three years prison but Mrs Finn was released immediately to serve 12 months of home detention.
Mr Finn will be released after serving nine months in prison.