FORMER Newcrest Mining Limited accountant Bruce Allan Johnston, 40, was on Friday sentenced to jail for six years and six months for misappropriating $1.2 million from the company.
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At the Downing Centre in Sydney, Johnston was set a four year non-parole period, which means he could be eligible for release on June 4, 2019.
At the District Court sentencing hearing in Orange in March this year, Johnston broke down during evidence saying he had got in too deep and couldn’t stop due to a gambling addiction.
Johnston’s fraud began in 2010 and continued until 2013 when anomalies were discovered by Newcrest’s accountants.
He generated false invoices to cover the amount of money he stole to feed his gambling habit.
During the hearing Johnston told the court he was extremely remorseful for his actions.
The court also heard Johnston began gambling at the age of 17.
During the height of his gambling addition, between 2010 and 2013, Johnston placed up to 100 bets a day on a number of different sports.
The court heard he used online betting agencies, betting by computer and via a mobile phone application he had on his phone.
Newcrest declined to comment.
janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au
