$200K FRAUD LEADS TO JAIL

MAN OFFENDS TO SUPPORT GAMBLING AND SEX ADDICTION

A TOOWOOMBA bookkeeper who defrauded three businesses of more than $200,000 to fuel his gambling and sex addictions has been sentenced for his crimes.

Jason Andrew McWilliam, 47, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud in the Dalby District Court on Friday.

Judge Craig Chowdury described the crimes as a “significant breach of trust”, sentencing McWilliam to eight years in prison with a parole date of November 15.

McWilliam transferred $153,068 from a Toowoomba computer business, $8073 from a Japanese restaurant and more than $46,000 from a dental surgery over the course of his offending. He turned himself in to police after one company confronted him about the suspicious transfers.

A “PATHOLOGICAL gambling disorder” has landed Jason Andrew McWilliam, 47, in jail after being sentenced in Dalby District Court.

McWilliam pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud in the court, having just completed a jail term of six months for similar offences.

The court heard that the former bookkeeper transferred more than $200,000 from three separate company accounts into his own personal account to fund his “gambling addiction and sex addiction” according to Judge Craig Chowdury.

Judge Chowdury described the crime as a “significant breach of trust”.

“It’s a real tragedy that you’re back here in the court,” he said.

McWilliam concealed the transfers between accounts by naming them “tax payment” and “ATO”.

He transferred $153,068 from a Toowoomba computer business, $8073 from a Japanese restaurant and more $46,000 from a dental surgery.

McWilliam turned himself in to police after one company confronted him about the suspicious transfers.

McWilliam’s lawyer Frank Martin suggested the defendant be given 12 months to pay back $20,000 in damages, or else serve a full term of imprisonment.

This was quickly dismissed by Judge Chowdury, who said the offer would simply “set him up to fail”.

The court heard McWilliam had attended Gamblers Anonymous meetings in an attempt to eliminate his addiction, which began when his father died.

“It’s a big climb of rehabilitation, but there’s hope,” Mr Martin said.

Judge Chowdury told the court the importance of maintaining control when gambling.

McWilliam was sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with a parole date set for November 15, 2019.