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• A person with a gambling addiction took over $324,000
• She received a three-month prison sentence.

A person addicted to gambling stole over $324,000 from the sons of a late Australian advertising icon and kept taking money from them as their father was ill.

Ad agency scam artist Steph Leddin was sentenced in theMelbourneThe County Court sentenced him to three months in prison on Monday after he admitted guilt to several fraud charges.

Leddin worked as a producer at the Melbourne advertising agency Sunday Gravy when she fraudulently obtained $324,518 through a ‘deliberate and extended’ scheme from March 2021 to January 2024.

A 35-year-old individual left the agency in a financially weakened state. Brothers Jack and Ant White established the company as “GEN C” in 2015.

Tony White, the father of the brothers, was a leading figure in Australia’s advertising sector until he passed away in October 2024 at the age of 85.

It was disclosed that Leddin’s underhanded activities continued without interruption, as the renowned father of the White family, who revitalized Melbourne’s Moomba festival during his 12-year tenure and played a key role in the success of Hey Hey It’s Saturday on television, was nearing the end of his life.

The court was informed that Leddin, a mother, took the money to support her online casino gambling habit, which she engaged in every night.

Leddin exploited her role overseeing financials during the agency’s productions to divert company money into her personal accounts.

She established a complex plan in which she fabricated bills for products and services from non-existent vendors.

The fraudulent invoices featured genuine suppliers and ABNs, but had banking information associated with Leddin.

Leddin, who worked full-time until November 2023 and took on freelance projects until February 2024, transferred funds through 77 unlawful transactions related to Sunday Gravy during the relevant time frame.

Her illegal behavior was revealed when Sunday Gravy hired a new freelance producer, who uncovered the fake payments.

Jack White reached out to Leddin for clarification and received an apology along with a commitment to establish a payment schedule.

“I want you to understand that my intention was never, ever to cause you or anyone else harm,” Leddin said to Mr. White in a text message.

I understand that I have done that regardless, and I feel embarrassed as a person, a mother, but even more so as a friend.

I have lost individuals I deeply, genuinely cared for, and that is something I will have to cope with for the rest of my life. I understand you inquired about it over the phone, but I was unable to respond.

Circumstances that were dire led to difficult choices, and I accept complete responsibility for them. I don’t expect or deserve a response, as I understand I need to speak with your attorney, but please realize that none of these decisions were made out of self-interest or for entertainment purposes.

I will carry this regret for the rest of my life, and I hope that, perhaps in the distant future, people will recall that I am a decent individual who committed an extremely terrible and unforgivable act.

Mr. White along with his sibling gathered proof and submitted the document to the police in May 2024 following Leddin’s failure to comply with the payment schedule.

Leddin, who relocated to Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast and now resides with her partner and child, was reached out to by Queensland Police in February of the previous year.

Leddin later confessed that she stole the money to support her severe gambling habit.

In his victim impact statement, Jack White mentioned that he had known Leddin for eight years and “due to that history, she was someone I trusted.”

“My wife was expecting our second child while my father was nearing the end of his life,” Mr. White stated.

I had no alternative but to sell the family house. This was something I never anticipated would occur due to trusting someone I had known for many years.

Mr. White also informed the court that Leddin’s criminal activities had the ‘potential to destroy’ Sunday Gravy.

The court was informed that Leddin has had difficulty coping with the passing of her mother, who succumbed to a prolonged battle with breast cancer when her daughter was only 21 years old.

Leddin also stated that she was pregnant at the time, and being in prison at any point would be more difficult since her child was expected in September.

The court was informed that Leddin’s partner works extended hours in Queensland as a project manager for a plumbing team, and her incarceration will cause difficulties for their four-year-old son, whom she “deeply wished to raise.”

Judge Stewart Bayles stated that Leddin “will be going through prison while pregnant.”

“This will introduce another source of stress and anxiety for you, further intensifying the hardship of being in prison,” Judge Bayles stated.

You will be separated from your four-year-old son and will not be able to care for him during this period, which will bring you great sorrow.

You are certain to experience an extra feeling of shame and guilt for causing this.

Leddin, who has already paid back $4,250, has shown a ‘willingness’ to return the full sum she took, according to the court.

Judge Bayles stated that Leddin’s “sophisticated misconduct” would have involved “some thought, planning, and preparation along with continuous execution.”

“The violation occurred during your professional duties… the victim’s impact was substantial,” he stated.

Your moral responsibility for this misconduct must be considered significant; I acknowledge that you may have had a gambling addiction at the time, which could have been a contributing factor to the offense.

Leddin received a three-month prison sentence and was given a 30-month community correction order, which the court was informed she plans to transfer to Queensland after her release.

Leddin was also required to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service.

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