Before working as a wedding makeup artist, Rodgers worked for Bupa, where she used her family and friends’ accounts to steal more than $65,000 from the company, according to a report by ABC News.
The Magistrates Court earlier heard that Rodgers made 62 false claims against her family and friends’ insurance accounts between 2016 and 2017, giving them a fake reason why money was landing in their accounts then asking them to transfer the cash to her.
Her scheme was unearthed when one of her friends tried to submit a claim, but was told she had reached her insurance limit. As a result, Bupa investigated the issue, while Rodgers’ friend reported the incident to the police.
Rodgers pleaded not guilty when she was charged with 62 accounts of dishonestly acquiring a financial advantage, but changed her plea to guilty early in proceedings.
As reported by ABC News, Rodgers’ lawyer argued that the makeup artist had stolen because she had a large personal debt, an argument that was rejected by the court because her bank statements revealed “lavish spending,” including interstate trips, personal shopping, and a night at the Hilton.
When Rodgers was sentenced in July, Chief Magistrate Catherine Geason clarified that the makeup artist was able to “service” her debt. However, the chief magistrate acknowledged that Rodgers suffered from generalised anxiety disorder and was remorseful about her past actions.
“[You have] consistently expressed how horrified you are about your past actions and have great difficulty reconciling offending behaviour [with your values],” Chief Magistrate Geason said, as reported by ABC News.
“You maintain it was entirely out of character and maintain disbelief that you took the actions you did. I do accept that over the passage of time, you have developed remorse.”
Rodgers was eventually sentenced to nine months in prison with seven suspended, but immediately appealed her sentence. Now, she will serve two months in jail.
