Store Boss Stole $7000

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday January 19, 2000

The former manager of Sportsgirl's Gateway store blamed an addiction to gambling when she pleaded guilty in court to stealing thousands of dollars from the fashion retailer.

Christine Denise Lepine, of Crown St, Wollongong, when questioned on November 4, 1999, by the store's loss prevention officer, admitted to processing 55 false clothing returns and then putting the money into her own bank account.

A police facts sheet tendered to Wollongong Local Court yesterday stated the 55 separate offences - all for relatively small amounts - added up to more than $7000. The money had been stolen between August and November last year.

Lepine, who had been manager of the store for three years, told police she took the money to feed a gambling habit.

Magistrate Bill Brydon sentenced Lepine to 80 hours' community service and placed her on a $500 two-year good behaviour bond.