Anne Elizabeth Dalton, 65, was recently sentenced for misappropriate public funds. She had used money that was intended to help abused women for her own personal gambling addiction, and Judge Paul Rice provided her with a lengthy jail term. Dalton will have to serve five years in jail for her crimes. After 2.5 years, she will be eligible for parole. Over the years, Dalton stole $100 475 from the South Australian government.
In order to obtain the funds, she submitted nearly 300 false applications for emergency financial assistance. This money is intended to be used by domestic abuse victims, but Dalton had claimed the funds for herself and used them to gamble. The former social worker was previously a dedicated worker, who was committed to betting the lives of her clients.
However, she fell victim herself – but not to domestic abuse. She found herself addicted to gambling, and did whatever she could to fund her habit. "Rather than helping women and children, the subject of domestic violence, you helped yourself to money set aside for them,” said Judge Rice. “Your previous good character diminished with each offence, trashing your character in the process."
The judge noted that Dalton had more than enough time to seek assistance for her gambling addiction. There are many services available in Australia, which aim to help problem gamblers curb their spending and kick their unhealthy spending habits. However, Dalton did not take advantage of them. She has been punished quite severely, she had stolen public funds.
Normally, in similar cases of gambling-related fraud, the guilty party is usually subject to two years in jail and required to pay reparations to their employer. Since the money was stolen from the South Australian government, and the funds were supposed to be spent on abused women, Dalton has been sentenced to a much lengthier term.
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