A former bank manager is currently under trial after police discovered he had stolen nearly £2.3 million (AUS$4.2 million) from Westpac while working for a subsidiary of the company.
Andi Lee, 39, used the money to fund his extravagant lifestyle, which has since come to an abrupt end - so much so that Lee is being financially assisted by his mum alongside his current position driving a shuttle bus for Ronald McDonald House.
The court heard on Thursday (August 20) how Lee was working for Bank of Melbourne in Doncaster when he channeled payments over the period of August 2015 to April 2019, reports The Herald Sun.
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So for nearly four years, Lee got away with his ploy by offering a number of his customers false term deposit deals and shifting the money into sham accounts that he regulated.
It would seem no customer was safe from Lee's crimes, as he even duped a couple who attended his wedding and a person who had left their job to care for their elderly mother.
In December of last year, police finally caught up with the former branch manager after appropriating a number of his electronic devices and notes featuring login details for the fake accounts.
During the latest court hearing, it was revealed that Lee used the money to fund his high-flyer lifestyle. That includes two Porsches for £153,000 (AUS$280,000) - one of which was a gift to his girlfriend - as well as a cool £765,000 (AUS$1.4million) for his business partner.
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The cash also went towards a £28,000 (AUS$51,000) deposit and rent on his sister's apartment, mortgage repayments on his ex-wife's house and various other habits such as travelling and gambling.
Lee's girlfriend sunk a fair chunk of the cash herself, including nearly £164,000 (AUS$300,000) on 26 designer watches which she then gave to Lee.
According to Barrister Peter Morrissey SC, his client's 'financially disadvantaged background' led him to pursue a life that he simply could not afford, adding: "He was posing as 'Mr Successful'."
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Prosecutor Matt Cookson said Lee knew the system well as a branch manager, telling the court: "He was a bank manager, he knows the system, he knows the anti-laundering methods."
Judge Frances Hogan said the accused is likely to be given a jail sentence, describing his crimes as 'unpalatable'.
Lee has pleaded guilty to three charges of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and will receive his sentence in September.
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