Sally Anne Walters was sentenced on 44 charges relating to the fraudulent misappropriation of money.

Supreme Court Justice Alan Blow said Walters had been working at Ulverstone Flight Centre as a team leader between April 2014 and September 2015.

Justice Blow said over a period of 17 months, Walters siphoned about $46,000 from the travel centre to her personal bank account. 

“Every dollar that she misappropriated was taken in order to pay or reduce her son’s drug debts,” Justice Blow said. 

“He started using drugs when he was 16, commenced using ice when he was 18, and had incurred enormous drug debts he was unable to pay.

“Some very worrying people started phoning Ms Walters, visiting her home, and insisting that the debts had to be paid.” 

Justice Blow said Walters had taken money that had been paid by customers, instead of depositing cash into a business bank account. 

He said she took customer refund money and deposited it into a credit card account she held with her husband.

The court heard Walters created false receipts using her employer’s computerised invoicing system. 

Justice Blow said the fraudulent transactions involved money paid or refundable to over 30 customers. 

Walters was sentenced for charges including 29 counts of computer-related fraud, seven counts of stealing, six counts of insertion of false information as data, and two counts using a computer with intention to defraud.

Justice Blow said Walters had since paid back $2917 of the money she stole, and had two other children, one who had psychological problems requiring care. 

“Because Ms Walters has no prior convictions, because she committed all these crimes only for the purpose of saving her wayward son from harm, and because of her remorse, I do not think it is necessary to send her to prison,” Justice Blow said. 

Justice Blow sentenced Walters to a term of eight months in prison, wholly suspended on the condition she complete 210 hours’ community service, and repay $43,063 to Flight Centre Travel Group. 

He said she had been “embarrassed and ashamed” of what she did, and had started a new part-time position of employment.  

“This was a serious case of embezzlement,” Justice Blow said. 

“It no doubt caused great inconvenience to the employer, as well as financial loss,

“If she does not go to prison her employer will allow her to retain [part-time] employment.”