A WOMAN who ran a charity fraud that netted $25,000 from Border residents over three years may not spend a single day behind bars.
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Pauline Blake, 41, collected change and cheques from people willing to help fight cancer, allegedly with her husband Dylan.
But none of the money ever went to the needy cause and was instead spent on bills and expenses.
Ms Blake breathed heavily and started crying when handed a 12-month jail term in Albury Local Court on Wednesday with a minimum of eight months.
But the mother of three will be assessed for home detention, meaning she may not serve any time in prison for her “deeply offensive” behaviour.
(People were) played upon for a lengthy period of time
- Police prosecutor Rowan Harris
The court heard the scheme was hatched after Mr Blake’s mother died of cancer.
Ms Blake came up with the idea of a ride to raise money.
The couple were living in the late woman’s house soon after and were struggling to pay the bills, so Ms Blake turned to the fake fundraiser to get some cash.
“It’s an offence of need, rather than greed,” defence lawyer Chris Halburd told the court.
“(She’s been) subjected to a great deal of community anger.”
The 41-year-old had actively advertised the fraud and put a great deal of planning into the scheme, which prosecutor Sergeant Rowan Harris said made the offending far more serious.
He paused, and took a deep breath, when noting how close the issue of cancer was to many in the community.
“The nature of the collection of money is one that inevitably involves inherent trust … that it is going to where the person says it’s going to,” he said.
“(People were) played upon for a lengthy period of time”.
The fraud ran from November 2012 to November 2015 and businesses reported that the charity tins were regularly emptied.
Initial estimates that the scheme raised $15,000 have grown to an estimate of $25,000.
Ms Blake will find out in court if she can serve her sentence at home on October 25.
She had initially pleaded not guilty.
Her husband was charged with dishonestly obtain property by deception in February and will return to court on September 29.
