A NORTH-WEST woman who swindled nearly $200,000 in welfare payments will spend at least 14 months behind bars. Denise Michele Morrissey, 63, has also been ordered to pay back every cent originally intended for her dead mother. Morrissey fraudulently pocketed the war widow payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs over almost 12 years. She received the first pension payment soon after her mother’s death in early 2002. By the time the DVA terminated the fortnightly instalments in December 2013, Morrissey had stolen just shy of $194,000. Morrissey pleaded guilty to one could of theft. Chief Justice Alan Blow said it seemed Morrissey, a disability support pensioner, spent much of the money on household items and bills to make her life a little more comfortable. But Chief Justice Blow said it appeared a substantial chunk of the money was spent on alcohol. The Supreme Court in Hobart heard Morrissey never made inquiries about her ongoing receipt of the pension, and had no comprehension of how much she had stolen. Chief Justice Blow said Morrissey had endured a difficult life, regretted what she had done, and had no significant prior convictions. He acknowledged Morrissey would find prison more uncomfortable than most because of her mobility problems. But handing down his sentence, Chief Justice Blow said given the amount of money stolen, a lengthy prison term was the only appropriate punishment. ‘‘Crimes like this are easy to commit and can be almost impossible to detect,’’ he said. Chief Justice Blow also acknowledged Morrissey had no significant assets and limited capacity to repay the money, but ordered her to do so following her release.
A NORTH-WEST woman who swindled nearly $200,000 in welfare payments will spend at least 14 months behind bars.
Denise Michele Morrissey, 63, has also been ordered to pay back every cent originally intended for her dead mother.
Morrissey fraudulently pocketed the war widow payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs over almost 12 years.
She received the first pension payment soon after her mother’s death in early 2002.
By the time the DVA terminated the fortnightly instalments in December 2013, Morrissey had stolen just shy of $194,000.
Morrissey pleaded guilty to one could of theft.
Chief Justice Alan Blow said it seemed Morrissey, a disability support pensioner, spent much of the money on household items and bills to make her life a little more comfortable.
But Chief Justice Blow said it appeared a substantial chunk of the money was spent on alcohol.
The Supreme Court in Hobart heard Morrissey never made inquiries about her ongoing receipt of the pension, and had no comprehension of how much she had stolen.
Chief Justice Blow said Morrissey had endured a difficult life, regretted what she had done, and had no significant prior convictions.
He acknowledged Morrissey would find prison more uncomfortable than most because of her mobility problems.
But handing down his sentence, Chief Justice Blow said given the amount of money stolen, a lengthy prison term was the only appropriate punishment.
‘‘Crimes like this are easy to commit and can be almost impossible to detect,’’ he said.
Chief Justice Blow also acknowledged Morrissey had no significant assets and limited capacity to repay the money, but ordered her to do so following her release.
