A HOWLONG woman convicted of stealing more than $80,000 from North East Water has been given another three months to prepare her appeal.
Tania Maree Harrison asked for the extension yesterday in a promise to make good for the money she stole.
Harrison was jailed for 12 months when the case was heard in Wodonga Court in May last year.
Within days she had lodged an appeal against the sentence, which magistrate John Murphy said was the only option given the substantial amount of money stolen and Harrison’s apparent lack of remorse.
Harrison appeared briefly before the County Court in Wodonga yesterday.
Her appeal was due to go ahead tomorrow, but was put off to the round of sittings due to start in Wodonga on May 7.
Solicitor Greg Duncan said Harrison was close to securing the money that would allow her to repay a large amount of the money she stole.
Mr Duncan said it appeared there was a very good chance of her obtaining the money, an outcome that would be “of benefit to the organisation involved”.
Judge Marilyn Harbison allowed the adjournment and extended Harrison’s conditional bail.
“Thank you Your Honour,” Harrison said before leaving the court.
Harrison was working as a payroll officer when she took the money, an act she described as a payback for being overworked.
Mr Murphy described her excuse as “rubbish”.
Harrison, 44, formerly of Macauley Street in Albury, did the payroll for all of the employees.