A Dubbo mum who stole almost $200,000 to help give her children a better standard of living was sentenced to an 18-month jail term on Wednesday.
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Margaret Hull, of O'Connor Place, made 13 fraudulent transactions and took $31,548 which belonged to Orana Energy Systems while she was trusted to manage finances.
After the 55-year-old made those transactions, she started working for Dubbo Radio Cabs and committed the same crime.
While working in her new role she made 54 fraudulent transactions and stole a total of $163,735.
Hull pleaded guilty to two charges of stealing from property from both employers.
In Dubbo Local Court for sentencing, she was supported by her children, who cried and told their mother they loved her as she was taken into custody following sentencing.
During the sentencing hearing, Hull's legal representative told the court she was remorseful and embarrassed.
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Hull was earning about $35,000 a year when the stealing offences were committed and did not steal the money to live an extravagant lifestyle, the legal representative said.
"Her motive was to provide a standard of living for her three kids," he said.
"She was at a very low point when the offending started.
"She was trying to provide more than she could."
The legal representative said Hull had no criminal record and "wants to repay the "loan".
Magistrate Gary Wilson intervened at that point and questioned the use of the word loan.
"The debt, I apologise," the legal representative told Magistrate Wilson before he argued community supervision and programs would be a more-effective punishment than imprisonment.
The legal representative said Orana Energy Systems and Dubbo Radio Cabs were not vulnerable victims because they would have insurance.
Magistrate Wilson said insurance had "nothing to do with it" and suggested while Hull might be willing to repay the money she stole, she might not be able to do so.
While he accepted Hull suffered emotional trauma, he said a sentencing assessment report concluded she appeared to show no insight into the impact of her offending behaviour.
"I also have to take into account general deterrence for the community to know these sorts of matters are unacceptable," Magistrate Wilson said.
There was no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence, he said before imposing an 18 month prison term, with a non parole period of 13 months.
Hull was escorted from the court and immediately appealed the severity of the sentence.
She was granted unconditional bail and her appeal is scheduled to be heard in the District Court on June 4.
