A Hobart veterinary nurse who stole more than $21,000 from her workplace, including taking cash and charging friends for free or discounted services, has avoided jail time, receiving a six-month wholly suspended sentence.
Emma Margaret Groves, 28, pleaded guilty to six charges, including stealing, computer fraud and general fraud, over offences committed while working at the Eastern Shore Veterinary Hospital between July 2017 and February 2021.
The Supreme Court heard Groves started stealing less than a year after beginning her job in October 2016, continuing her offending until she was fired three and a half years later.
Justice Tamara Jago said Groves had taken advantage of her trusted position, which included reception duties, preparing invoices and handling payments for surgeries and stock orders.
Groves stole cash from the register on 46 separate occasions between May 2020 and February 2021, taking amounts ranging from $10 to $400 and totalling $6,018.50.
To cover her tracks, she would alter invoices to show reduced prices, void original receipts and create new payment records.
In some cases, she even signed off documents using colleagues’ initials to avoid detection.
The court heard Groves also gave friends and associates heavily discounted or free services by altering invoices, then asked them to pay her directly. In total, she pocketed $10,947.50 from 71 separate incidents.
Another $4,445 was transferred directly into her personal bank account by 44 people who believed they were paying veterinary bills, but none of the money made it to the clinic.
The fraud came to light in early 2021 when staff noticed a discrepancy during a routine check of clinical notes. CCTV footage later showed Groves at the computer creating fake invoices and receipts.
When questioned by police in December 2021, Groves initially denied everything, but later admitted she had taken payments from clients directly.
“You told police that you could not say no to requests from your friends,” Justice Jago said.
The clinic’s owners gave victim impact statements, describing not just financial damage but also the emotional toll including anxiety, self-doubt and a loss of trust in others.
“The reality is that employers should be able to trust their employees. Without trust, it is difficult for businesses to operate successfully,” Justice Jago said.
Despite the seriousness of the offences, the court accepted that Groves was remorseful. She apologised to her former employers and has started paying some money back.
Groves said most of the stolen money went on everyday expenses, including petrol for regular trips to visit her sick father in Oatlands and extra rent when a housemate moved out.
She was ordered to complete 140 hours of community service within 18 months and must not commit any further offences during that time.
Groves must also repay $21,411 to the Eastern Shore Veterinary Hospital.
