A Koonawarra gambling addict has told a court she stole money from her Wollongong employer by making fraudulent refunds because she had not dealt with unresolved "grief" in her life.
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Kelly Ann Treble, 42, was sentenced for three counts of stealing property as a clerk when she faced Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday.
Last month Treble admitted to refunding varying items to herself from her register at BWS Wollongong that she did not originally buy, agreed facts tendered to court said.
She used the same method on four occasions, with her actions captured on the store's security cameras.
Treble, who represented herself in court, told Magistrate Susan McGowan that she was "very remorseful for what I have done to myself, my family, to everyone".
She said she hoped she could move on with her life and when asked what led to her crimes she told Magistrate McGowan it was "grief" that she hadn't dealt with for seven years.
Treble went on to say it was her "own fault" and she was prepared to "take responsibility".
Treble said she was doing "a lot better" in the past four months since she was charged and was starting to deal with her grief.
Magistrate McGowan said the charges were "serious offences" as it was often "hard to detect" and the employee was in a "position of trust".
She took into account Treble's prior good character and that the stolen money had been paid back in full, adding she "hoped it was a one off".
Magistrate McGowan convicting Treble and placed her on a community corrections order for 12 months where she must be of good behaviour.
The court documents said the first time Treble stole money was to the amount of $396 on February 5.
She did the same twice again five days later when she refunded herself $110 at 9.37am then just over an hour later another $204.
She finally pocketed $324 a day later on February 11.
Treble was confronted by an asset protection manager from Endeavour Drinks Company, which owns BWS Wollongong, on March 2.
She made full admissions to making the fraudulent transactions to the amount of $1034 before they agreed the stolen money would be deducted from her pay.
Police interviewed Treble on March 22 where she again owned up to her actions before she was charged.
Police said Treble was cooperative with her employer throughout the investigation and agreed to pay back $1077 immediately.
She admitted to being a gambling addict who was trying to recover and was seeking mental health treatment, adding she was remorseful and "disgusted" with herself.
Treble, who is married with children, was terminated from her job.
Read more court-crime stories here.
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