A young Canowindra man has learnt crime doesn't pay after he received an 18-month community corrections order at Cowra Local Court.
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Jordan Corey Kemper, 21, of Radnor Street appeared before Cowra Local Court charged with 17 counts of dishonestly obtain a financial advantage by deception.
According to police facts, Kemper's offending took place between 8am on October 20, 2019 and 2pm on November 4, 2019.
On November 4, the victim, a contractor who did work with Kemper, contacted police in relation to a series of unauthorised transactions bring made from both their private and business bank accounts.
An investigation commenced and found the transactions were made to an online gambling agency account.
$415 across 11 transactions were made from one account and $880 across six transactions were made on the other account, bringing the total to $1295.
On December 13, 2019, the victim attended Eugowra Police Station and said, around the time of the transactions, they were working at a Woodstock address.
They said they had left their wallet and phone unattended inside the premises whilst carrying out the work.
At 12pm on January 10, 2020, police attended a Radnor St residence to caution and interview Kemper.
Kemper made full and frank admissions to the unauthorised transactions, where he admitted to taking a photograph of the credit cards whilst the victim's wallet was unattended and using those details to transfer all of the funds into his TAB account.
He used the cash to gamble on races and, as a result, lost all of the money.
Kemper admitted he was "not thinking straight", where he was going through a difficult time with no job or licence and needed money.
He stated he was intoxicated when transferring the funds from the victim's business account and sober when he first committed the offences.
At the time, Kemper had no intention of repaying the funds, however, whilst speaking with police, he was cooperative and remorseful for his actions.
Kemper's solicitor, Clive Hill, said his client was unemployed at the time and helping a friend with labouring.
"It was an opportunity that presented to Kemper. It was a poor decision to take it, he thought he would get away with it," Mr Hill said.
"He's a young man who's taken the first step down the wrong road.
"He's learnt from this occasion that crime doesn't pay... he's sorry for what he did, it was a crime of opportunity."
Magistrate Michael O'Brien said the average person would not steal from another person, even if the chance arose.
"What distinguishes the rest of us is not taking advantage of that opportunity," he said.
"The amounts are not significant, but together it's an enterprise with a degree of planning.
"You will go a long way in life if you respect the rights of others."
Kemper was also ordered to repay the $1295, not to open or otherwise conduct directly or through another person any gambling or gaming accounts and actively engage in any counselling designed to address predisposition to gambling.