Mum fleeces TSS of $150K

A 37-year-old mum who worked at The Southport School ripped off more than $150,000 from the elite institution.

Elizabeth Rachel Herringe was employed as a maintenance and facilities co-ordinator at TSS (pictured) when she fraudulently claimed cash and furniture items between August, 2017, and May, 2020.

Southport District Court was told she defrauded $151,887 in total, including more than $29,000 worth of furniture items.

Herringe would forge her signature on invoices or initial forms in her now-estranged-husband’s company name.

The mother attempted to cover her tracks when she began being questioned about the frauds, trying to return furniture items to the school during the early hours of the morning.

She was caught on CCTV footage and subsequently reported to police.

The court was told Herringe had been convicted of dishonesty offences in 2007.

Defence barrister Anthony Jamieson said his client was significantly affected by the breakdown of her marriage, and claimed she had since struggled to provide for her children financially.

He said Herringe’s lack of offending since being caught showed she was trying to move forward with her children and new partner.

“Nothing has happened in two years. This lady has gone about working, looking after her children, and building a life,” Mr Jamieson said.

A psychologist’s report tendered to the court revealed Herringe claimed to have been a victim of sexual harassment while working at the school, and viewed her thefts as “silent and dysfunctional lashing out at perceived injustices”.

The court was told no formal complaint had been made to TSS or police.

Herringe wept through most of her court proceedings, but was stony-faced as her final sentence was handed down. Judge Suzanne Sheridan described Herringe’s offending as “persistent and devious”, saying such crimes impacted the entire system.

She acknowledged the woman had no means of repaying such a large sum, but ordered she make some sort of attempt at restitution if she became able.

Herringe pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by an employee.

She was sentenced four years’ jail, wholly suspended for four years after serving 10 months in custody.