Mother of Five Appeals Sentence for Workplace Theft
Ariana Thompson-Bell, a 33-year-old pregnant mother of five, is fighting her sentence after being jailed for stealing nearly $500,000 from her employer's bank account over two years.
She spent most of the stolen money on takeaways, cafes, supermarkets, and a holiday, with Judge Tini Clark stating that her actions were driven by "greed" during sentencing in July.
"This was not money taken for something essential, where it was a one-off occasion out of desperation or anything of the kind. This was a very warped sense of entitlement to money that she knew ... she was not entitled to."
Thompson-Bell was initially given a starting point of five years' jail, but received discounts totaling 55%, resulting in a 27-month jail sentence.
Author's summary: Mother of five appeals sentence for stealing $500k from employer.