Bookkeeper jailed after stealing $891,000 to spend on designer handbags, luxury goods

A contract bookkeeper who stole $891,000 from her employer has been jailed for three years and nine months in the Victorian County Court. The Court found Duvelle Jeffrey, a 31-year-old mother of two, funnelled $891,000 from a group of direct sales companies called The Comunicom Group while employed as a contract bookkeeper between 2005 and 2009. Duvelle splurged the money on luxury goods and gambling debts racked up by her mother in Singapore. During a search of Jeffery’s former home in the suburb of East Doncaster police found designer items worth $150,000 to $200,000 including a Hermes handbag worth a staggering $49,000. Jeffrey told police she stole the money because her family needed cash and once she started she could not stop. Company director Kate McNab told AAP outside the court that Jeffrey had been able to hide her thieving by blaming other people for financial discrepancies and playing staff off against each other. Chief Judge Michael Rozenes said when a manager raised concerns about the dwindling amount of money in company bank accounts Jeffrey told him he needed to improve his business practices. "Theft from an employee whilst in a position of trust and over an extended period of time is a serious breach of duty and a serious offence," Rozenes said. "Your conduct was sophisticated and when you were confronted on several occasions you blatantly lied." Jeffry’s actions had a devastating effect on The Comunicom Group, with one company in the group, Powerhouse International, losing $204,000 and ultimately collapsing. McNab told reporters she had been forced to sell two investment properties to keep the business afloat. Jeffrey repaid $291,000 after selling her home and will serve at least two years in jail before being eligible for parole.