Mum, 31, took $3000

A TOWNSVILLE bank teller has avoided jail after she was caught using her position to take money from a customer’s bank account.

Rachelle Rae Neucom, 31, faced Townsville Magistrates Court where she pleaded guilty to 10 fraud offences committed while employed at the Castletown Suncorp Bank branch.

Prosecutor Jordan Theed said Neucom served a customer on March 10, 2020, who visited the bank to reset their internet banking access.

Over three months she accessed the account 10 times and transferred $3000 to her account.

Mr Theed said Neucom used the customer’s account as her “own personal piggy bank” and dipped into the account when she was tight on money or needed to pay bills.

On June 22, 2020, a representative for the customer complained to the bank about transactions that happened without their permission.

“(She) was in a significant position of trust and was employed in order to handle the money and assist customers for a financial institution,” he said.

Mr Theed said imprisonment was “well within range” and the “only appropriate penalty” as he urged Magistrate Ken Taylor to impose a suspended sentence.

Defence lawyer Lisa Mcnamara said probation, fines or community service

Rachelle Neucom

was within range for her client, who was a young mother.

Further, Ms Mcnamara said her client had paid back the money in full before her sentencing.

“She stopped this offending after a period of time, realising she had crossed a line,” she said.

“She history.”

Ms Mcnamara said Neucom acknowledged she had done something “completely stupid” but submitted a jail sentence, which would come with a conviction, would greatly impact her ability to care for her family.

In sentencing on Tuesday, September 28, Mr Taylor said he took into account Neucom’s early plea of guilty and obvious remorse and payment of restitution.

She was sentenced to two years’ probation and 60 hours of community service.

No conviction recorded. has no criminal was