A FINANCE officer who stole more than $110,000 from a Launceston primary school has been sentenced to 18 months' jail. Ellen Irene Amy Tiller manipulated accounts, cashed cheques and transferred money at Larmenier Primary School between 2005 and 2011. Justice David Porter told the Supreme Court of Tasmania in Hobart on Wednesday the crimes were a "sustained course of deceit" and Tiller had shown little remorse. "What you did amounted to a serious breach of trust," Justice Porter said. Justice Porter sentenced Tiller to 18 months' jail, backdated to April 1, with a non-parole period of nine months. The 48-year-old mother of two and Sea Scout volunteer had pleaded guilty to 145 dishonesty offences involving the school. The court was told the money had not been spent on maintaining an extravagant lifestyle, but was used for living expenses and to pay a mortgage. The crimes were discovered when an internal audit of the school's accounts found many irregular transactions. After almost $20,000 was identified by staff, Tiller resigned and later paid the amount back. However, a full audit by a private company found $110,603.19 had been stolen, including the use of 40 blank cheques totalling about $76,000. Almost 30 electronic transfers were made to steal funds to the tune of $27,000. The final amount Tiller must repay will be determined at a later date.
A FINANCE officer who stole more than $110,000 from a Launceston primary school has been sentenced to 18 months' jail.
Ellen Irene Amy Tiller manipulated accounts, cashed cheques and transferred money at Larmenier Primary School between 2005 and 2011.
Justice David Porter told the Supreme Court of Tasmania in Hobart on Wednesday the crimes were a "sustained course of deceit" and Tiller had shown little remorse.
"What you did amounted to a serious breach of trust," Justice Porter said.
Justice Porter sentenced Tiller to 18 months' jail, backdated to April 1, with a non-parole period of nine months.
The 48-year-old mother of two and Sea Scout volunteer had pleaded guilty to 145 dishonesty offences involving the school.
The court was told the money had not been spent on maintaining an extravagant lifestyle, but was used for living expenses and to pay a mortgage.
The crimes were discovered when an internal audit of the school's accounts found many irregular transactions.
After almost $20,000 was identified by staff, Tiller resigned and later paid the amount back.
However, a full audit by a private company found $110,603.19 had been stolen, including the use of 40 blank cheques totalling about $76,000.
Almost 30 electronic transfers were made to steal funds to the tune of $27,000.
The final amount Tiller must repay will be determined at a later date.
