R v Fineff [2023] NSWDC 108

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Fineff [2023] NSWDC 108 Hearing dates: 20 January 2023 & 29 March 2023 Date of orders: 21 April 2023 Decision date: 21 April 2023 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: O'Brien AM DCJ Decision: See para 279 Catchwords: SENTENCE- Multiple offences of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception - 12 victims – total fraud $3,355,026.20 over 3.5 years - early plea of guilty - senior financial advisor in a position of trust – relevant matters in assessing the objective seriousness of fraud offences - rolled up counts/multiple criminal acts – relevance of gambling addiction/disorder - impact on victims - impact of other mental health conditions – no prior criminal history – online gambling and the need for review of incentives provided to gamblers –significant steps towards rehabilitation including engaging in gambling reform – voluntary disclosure of offending and assistance to authorities – totality – comparable cases – special circumstances Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Cases Cited: Ahmad v R [2021] NSWCCA 30 Bugmy v R (2013) 249 CLR 571 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v De La Rosa [2010] NSWCCA 194 DS v R; DM v R [2022] NSWCCA 156 Elias v The Queen (2013) 248 CLR Hili v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520 Johnson v R [2017] NSWCCA 53 McLaren v R [2021] NSWCCA 12 Miller v R [2014] NSWCCA 34 Nakhl v R (Cth) [2020] NSWCCA 201 Osman v R [2020] NSWCCA 78 Paterson v R [2021] NSWCCA 273 R v Dawson [2022] NSWSC 1632 R v Engert (1995) 84 A Crim R 67 R v Ellis (1986) 6 NSWLR 603 R v Fidow [2004] NSWCCA 172 R v Gentz [1999] NSWCCA 285 R v Grossi (2008) 183 A Crim R 15 R v Henry (1999) 46 NSWLR 346 R v Palu [2002] NSWCCA 381 R v Smith [2000] NSWCCA 140 Signato v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 656 Tepania v R [2018] NSWCCA 247 Valentine v R [2007] NSWCCA 23 Category: Sentence Parties: Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Gavin Daniel Fineff Representation: Solicitor: Mr R Murray (for the Director of Public Prosecutions)