Duvelle Jeffrey jailed after spending stolen cash on bags

County Court Chief Judge Michael Rozenes told Duvelle Jeffrey she abused the trust of the victim companies and caused their directors stress, anxiety and depression. He said Jeffrey, a mother-of-two, weaved a "web of deceit" and tried to shift the blame for her thieving on to other innocent people. The 31-year-old was earning $3000 a week from companies in the Comunicom Group for contract bookkeeping services. One company, Powerhouse International, lost $204,000, and went under. "Theft from an employer whilst in a position of trust and over a period of time is a serious breach of duty and a serious offence,'' Chief Judge Rozenes said. Police who raided Jeffrey's East Doncaster home found stacked boxes containing more than 100 luxury items including handbags by Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Balenciaga, and Chanel shawls. One Hermes handbag was valued at $49,000. "`Once I started I just couldn't stop,'' Jeffrey told the police. Chief Judge Rozenes said Jeffrey claimed she gave $250,000 to her family in Singapore because her mother had a serious gambling addiction but this could not be verified. He set a maximum term of three years and nine months. Jeffrey now lives in a rented home in Point Cook and she previously pleaded guilty to seven counts of theft of sums ranging from $3544 to $414,000. Outside court Kate McNab, a director of Comunicom, said Jeffrey's crimes had a shattering effect on the group. Ms McNab revealed she had to sell two investment properties to keep the company afloat. "We had no idea what was going on. Even now I wake up and think she could not have done this to us,'' said Ms McNab. "She was very very clever and she always had a good excuse when we asked where the money was going.''