Ronald Roy Brindley died of respiratory failure while interstate on July 23 last year, leaving behind two daughters, Sharon Ann May Wardman and Lorraine Croker.

The sisters had always had a “somewhat strained” relationship, Wollongong Local Court heard on Monday, however this disintegrated beyond repair when Mrs Croker discovered her sister had used their father’s debit card to take money from his account in defiance of the administration of his estate.

Bank records reveal Wardman withdrew $1,000 from an ATM at Warilla on July 24, the day after Mr Brindley’s death, then a further $1,000 on July 27 – the day of his funeral – and another $1,000 on July 29.

She also used his bank card to pay for $120 worth of flowers to put on his casket.

The court heard Mrs Croker’s solicitor wrote to Wardman saying if she handed over her share of her father’s estate – about $2600 – Mrs Croker wouldn’t take the matter to police.

Wardman ignored the request, prompting Mrs Croker to report the fraud to police.

Wardman was arrested in November and charged with dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage.

She admitted taking the money during a subsequent police interview, at one stage saying it was “out of spite” but did not elaborate further.

She told police she spent the money on Christmas presents, a series of tattoos that were a “tribute to her grandchildren” and “other stuff”.

In court on Monday, Magistrate Susan McGowan labelled the fraud “unsophisticated” and “doomed to fail”.

However she was sympathetic to Wardman’s emotional state at the time.

“I’m not excusing it but at times of family stress peple do things they otherwise wouldn’t do,” she said.

She placed Wardman on a 12-month good behaviour bond and ordered her to pay her sister $2060 in compensation.