Emma Louise Morton (right) has been sentenced to three years’ jail. Photo: Albert McKnight.
An egregious breach of trust was committed against the children, parents, staff and community of a southern Canberra preschool when its director stole more than $300,000 from the not-for-profit charity, the ACT Supreme Court has heard.
Emma Louise Morton was heard gasping for air and had to lean on the side of the dock when she was sentenced to three years’ jail on Thursday (30 October).
While this means the 51-year-old will spend Christmas in jail, she will be released in January 2026 because the sentence will be suspended after she spends three months behind bars.
Earlier this year, Morton admitted stealing almost $306,000 from the Weston Creek Children’s Centre in southern Canberra between March 2020 and February 2021.
By the time of her arrest in 2021, she had spent two decades working as the centre’s director.
“The breach of trust involved in the offending was egregious,” Justice Belinda Baker said on Thursday.
“This was not a multinational company, as the offender well knew.
“She was one of only two persons who had access to the banking systems.”
The overall impression was that Morton used the centre’s funds as her own personal banking account, the judge said. For instance, some transactions took place at retailer David Jones on items including clothes.
One of her charges related to her transferring about $140,000 in 26 separate transactions from the childcare centre to bank accounts in her name or the names of others.
She was also charged with receiving three transactions totalling $130,000 from the centre into a bank account she controlled. She never spent this money.
Morton’s lawyers claimed she transferred these funds in a misguided attempt to address the risks in the COVID-19 pandemic, but Justice Baker rejected this claim.
Morton also used the centre’s debit card to purchase goods not for the organisation in 106 transactions that totalled $34,000.
Emma Louise Morton approaches the ACT Supreme Court for her sentencing hearing. Photo: Albert McKnight.
Justice Baker said the crimes only came to light thanks to the diligence and courage of centre employee Kylie Goodwin.
At Morton’s sentencing hearing earlier this month, Ms Goodwin said she had seen Morton’s “unusual spending of centre funds” and went to police to protect her workplace, its 35 staff and the hundreds of families who trusted the centre with their children over the years.
“Her actions have left a huge negative impact on me and the centre, which we are still dealing with reputationally and financially to this day,” she said.
Justice Baker said Morton had endured a traumatic decade in the lead-up to the offences and had been diagnosed with a major depression disorder with post-traumatic stress disorder-style symptoms.
She said the motive for the offences was unclear, but Morton’s mental illness had a significant impact on her cognition, judgement and control.
She noted all the stolen funds had been repaid or were in the process of being repaid.
While Justice Baker said some of Morton’s statements suggested she minimised her offending, she had shown some remorse and had good prospects of rehabilitation.
Morton had no prior criminal history and was assessed at a low risk of reoffending.
After spending years fighting her charges, Morton pleaded guilty to three counts of theft several weeks before she was scheduled to face a trial.
Morton was convicted and must complete a 33-month good behaviour order when she is released from custody, along with 200 hours of community service.
