Fineff v R [2024] NSWCCA 102

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Fineff v R [2024] NSWCCA 102 Hearing dates: 3 June 2024 Decision date: 17 June 2024 Before: Leeming JA at [1]; Davies J at [64]; N Adams J at [65] Decision: 1. Grant leave to appeal. 2. Dismiss the appeal. Catchwords: CRIME – appeals – appeal against sentence – aggregate sentence of 9 years imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 5 years and 4 months for 12 offences of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception – whether sentence manifestly excessive – highly favourable subjective case – early plea of guilty – assistance to authorities – total fraud in excess of $3.3 million – offending took place over some 3½ years – many victims elderly – substantial financial harm and emotional distress inflicted on victims – consideration of comparable cases – appeal dismissed Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 1041G Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 192E Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), s 16BA Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), s 53A Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5 Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic), s 6AAA Cases Cited: Abellanoza v R [2021] NSWCCA 4 AC v R (2023) 111 NSWLR 514; [2023] NSWCCA 133 Barnes v Addy (1874) LR 9 Ch App 244 Berryman v R [2017] NSWCCA 297 Davidson v R [2022] NSWCCA 153; 300 A Crim R 214 DPP v Luscombe [2024] VCC 370 Elsaj v R [2017] NSWCCA 124 Nakhl v R (Cth) [2020] NSWCCA 201 Obeid v R (2017) 96 NSWLR 155; [2017] NSWCCA 221 PG v R [2017] NSWCCA 179; 268 A Crim R 61 R v Burke [2002] NSWCCA 353 R v Clarke [2019] NSWDC 2 R v Fineff [2023] NSWDC 108 R v Hopkins [2021] NSWDC 410 The King v Hatahet [2024] HCA 23 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Gavin Daniel Fineff (Applicant) Crown (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: TF Woods (Applicant) J Styles (Crown)