THE County Court has upheld a Latrobe Valley magistrate’s decision to sentence a Churchill mother-of-eight to three months’ imprisonment after she was found guilty of obtaining emergency funds by deception.
Today, Judge Lisa Hannan ruled Nicole Tanya Stivic would serve the three months in jail and a 12-month community corrections order beginning today, and would have to repay the $13,668 she obtained from the Department of Human Services.
“I view your conduct callous and morally reprehensible,” Judge Hannan said to a sobbing Stivic.
The 34 year-old former Boolarra resident had attended the Mirboo North and Traralgon recovery centres between 10 and 24 February 2009 and made false declarations on the personal hardship grant assessments as part of the DHS’s Emergency Grants at least four times.
Stivic was sentenced by magistrate Peter Mellas on Tuesday, but appealed the sentence.
