Drug addict forged cheques, invoices

A woman addicted to drugs obtained $1700 in cash and goods by passing bogus cheques, using a man's cheque book eight times, Darwin Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

At times she signed the cheques, which bore the name of ``Anthony ...'' in front of supermarket attendants and at businesses she duped.

``I find it very difficult to pay anything by cheque,'' Magistrate David Loadman said.

``There has to be a degree of culpability by the merchant.''

The court heard Julianne Margaret Speers was a ``success story'' from the drug court and would soon be the first person to complete Stage 2 of the court's program.

Speers, 36, now completing a residential rehabilitation program, pleaded guilty to a total of 16 charges of uttering a forged cheque and obtaining money and goods between August 12 and September 15, 2004.

Speers also pleaded guilty to four charges of making false Medicare claims for a total of $650 between April 23 and 28, 2003.

Prosecutor Acting Sergeant Renae McGarvie said it was not known how Speers came to have a credit union cheque book whose owner had moved to Brisbane in December 2003.

Speers mainly bought goods with cheques written out for $100 or $200, asking for the balance in cash.

Federal prosecutor Robyn Curnow said Speers made four false claims for medical services on forged invoices.

Defence lawyer Peter Maley said the offences were unsophisticated and amphetamine driven.

``She has made a real and genuine attempt to deal with her drug problem,'' he said.

``She is within a couple of weeks of completing Stage 2, her prognosis is very good and she looks like getting a job with a previous employer.''

Mr Loadman said he took into account Speers's guilty pleas and her success in the drug court program but he must pass a sentence that would deter others.

The magistrate declined to forfeit any money for breaching a bond but extended the bond to December 18, 2006.

He imposed an aggregate sentence of 10 months' jail, suspended immediately on condition of committing no offences during the bond period.

``You go from here with your freedom but with the heavy Sword of Damocles hanging over your head,'' Mr Loadman told Speers, wishing her ``good luck''.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Thur, 12 May 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Bob Watt
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283