A WOMAN who stole huge sums of money from several Albany community organisations has been jailed for almost three years.
Anita Louise Brady (43) was sentenced in the Albany District Court on Tuesday.
Brady had pleaded guilty to 55 counts of stealing $75,140.24.
She was originally charged on 87 counts but the number was reduced after negotiations with the Department of Public Prosecutions.
The court heard that between January 21, 2003, and April 17, 2007, Brady stole varying amounts of money from the North Albany Senior High School and the Mount Lockyer Primary School Parents and Citizens Associations and the Albany Junior Soccer Association.
State Prosector Ian Marshall said one count on the indictment related to $485.75 Brady stole from the Mount Lockyer P&C in 2005 when she was acting as treasurer.
“She made a cheque payable to A. Brady in the amount of $485.75 but stated in the journal the amount was for Stirling Confectionery,” he said.
Mr Marshall said a further three counts related to the Albany Junior Soccer Association when she wrote three cheques to the value of $10,559.43 to three different accounts.
The balance of the 55 charges relate to the NASHS P&C from which she stole $64,095.06 while working as the treasurer and then president.
Judge Henry Wisbey said Brady had used her position to draw cheques payable to her own accounts or her own purposes.
“In many cases there were false payees,” he said.
“She was writing cheques to cover up what was happening at other associations.”
Mr Marshall said Brady had been in charge of NASHS money to purchase equipment, subject prizes and fund chaplaincy.
As the funds dwindled, the P&C Association was unable to provide the usual support.
“Students are going without, and other activities have to be cut to the bone,” he said.
“This was a serious breach of trust, the crime is far to serious, and an immediate imprisonment is needed.
“The length of time, the deception, the cover-up and the lies. Brady’s theft was cold and calculated.
“The children are suffering because these associations have no funding because they have been dwindled away by people in trust.”
Brady’s defence lawyer Bruno Illari said money was taken not only for his client’s purposes but also for her family.
Mr Illari said Brady had four children and worked full time.
After she took on work with up to seven committees, things went “over the top” for his client.
“In 2003, things starting going wrong. Her daughter was diagnosed with ADHD and their home life suffered as a result,” he said.
After a close friend committed suicide, and already suffering from depression, Brady started self-medicating with her daughter’s ADHD medicine.
“It gave her super-human strength but also blurred her senses,” he said.
“She started paying for committee bills out of her own funds, and what funds were from where was blurred.
“When police interviewed her she found it difficult to believe she was a thief because she was only using the money and had every intention of repaying it.”
In sentencing, Judge Wisbey said the facts detailed stealing from three associations periodically over a four-year period.
“In each case you were in a honouree position, a clear position of trust and your behaviour has breached that trust,” he said.
“The crimes have been committed in aggravated terms, they were persistent, repeated and your offending was through positions of trust.”
Judge Wisbey said he had been provided with several victim impact statements.
“You were trusted with funds, provided by parents, needed to advance the interests of the associations and the students these associations look after,” he said.
“There has now been considerable suffering because of your actions.”
Judge Wisbey said the reports provided to the court for sentencing did not explain or excuse the behaviour.
“You have conducted yourself in an inappropriate manner and the term of 34 months imprisonment reflects your criminality,” he said.
He made an order for compensation of $64,094.06 to NASHS Parents and Citizens Association, $10,559.43 to the Albany Junior Soccer Association and $486.75 to the Mount Lockyer Primary School Parents and Citizens Association.
Brady will be eligible for parole after serving 17 months.
WACSSO senior vice president Kylie Catto addressed the media outside the courtroom after Brady’s sentencing.
“This has done damage to the students and it was done by someone everyone trusted,” she said.
“I urge other organisations to be vigilant because this can happen to anyone.
“And if it does, follow up with the relevant bodies,” she said.
WACSSO provides support services for 650 schools statewide.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter