mmg.com.au

The former manager of Echuca’s basketball stadium has received a six-month suspended jail sentence after stealing more than $21,000 from Echuca Basketball Association.

David Jason Reardon, 34, of Echuca, pleaded guilty to 17 counts of theft in Echuca Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The court heard Mr Reardon wrote 17 cheques from a couple of hundred up to several thousand dollars in an 18-month period while he managed Echuca’s Fonterra Centre.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Alan Walker told the court Mr Reardon abused his position of trust, using the association’s cheques to pay household bills and other expenses.

The thefts took place between May 2010 and January 2012 when association board members fronted Mr Reardon who confessed.

Mr Reardon repaid $20,000 to the association after his position was terminated, thinking it would resolve the issue.

Police then interviewed Mr Reardon in September 2012 after the association reported the matter to police.

Mr Reardon’s solicitor Garry Quinn told the court Mr Reardon used the money to pay household bills after he and his young family, including three young children, ran into financial trouble.

Mr Quinn said the incident had not only cost Mr Reardon his job, but also his marriage.

‘‘He took the money to get his head above water with the intention to repay it before it was noticed ,’’ he said.

Magistrate Jennifer Tregent asked the defence why the fraudulent cheques were not picked up during financial audits.

‘‘I cannot answer that, suffice to say that they didn’t, the books may not have been done even though it was seven months later,’’ Mr Quinn said.

‘‘Any association cheques had to be signed by himself and a board member. Banks accepted cheques with just his signature and because of his position of trust he received pre-signed blank cheques.’’

Mr Quinn told the court Mr Reardon lived in Echuca as a child and returned to the region after years in the Australian Defence Force, serving in East Timor and Iraq.

In sentencing, Ms Tregent said she was glad the offences were detected sooner rather than later.

‘‘You are 34 and have no prior convictions. You have served this country and had positions of trust. You are lucky that this was detected before you got yourself deeper in and the amount taken was enough to send you to a higher court,’’ she said.

Ms Tregent suspended the six-month jail sentence for 12 months and ordered Mr Reardon to repay $1394.04, which was the remainder of the money he owed Echuca Basketball Association.