A Queensland principal of 31 years walked free from court despite defrauding his own students and the government of nearly $64,000 over half a decade.
But in a ‘most unusual case’, Brisbane Magistrates Court heard John Leonard Webster wasn’t motivated by greed or personal benefit.
Webster, 60, had used an Education Department credit card to buy an iPhone later given to his daughter, fitness trackers for staff, gifts for Japanese dignitaries and raffle prizes like skydiving experiences.
The 100 transactions worth about $29,000 related to a Japanese bilingual program Webster developed at the Brisbane school where he worked.
A Queensland principal, John Leonard Webster, defrauded the government and students of nearly $64,000 over half a decade, but in a ‘most unusual case’ wasn’t motivated by greed or personal benefit (pictured, Webster, wearing a mask, at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday)
He used an Education Department credit card to buy an iPhone later given to his daughter, fitness trackers for staff, gifts for Japanese dignitaries and raffle prizes like skydiving experiences, Brisbane Magistrates Court was told on Friday (pictured, Webster, centre, outside court on Friday)
The program involved reciprocal tours between Australia and Japan.
The headmaster also accepted about $35,000 in cash from students going on annual tours to Japan that he did not give receipts for and could not account for.
Webster was the principal at Wellers Hill State School in the Brisbane suburb of Tarragindi earning up to $155,000 a year at the time.
The fraud, totalling $63,943, came to light in 2018 when parents complained to the Education Department.
The court was told Webster didn’t benefit financially from the offences, but they were for his benefit.
Webster also admitted approving sick leave for his wife Suzette Maree Webster – a teacher at his school – when he knew she was not ill.
Prosecutor Zachary Kaplan said Webster ‘treated public funds as his own personal expense account’ over five years.
He told the court detectives found nearly $10,000 in currency at Webster’s home during a search as part of their investigation in 2019.
But Webster’s barrister Craig Eberhardt argued Webster’s case was ‘extraordinary’ as he wasn’t motivated by greed or self-enrichment.
The 100 transactions worth about $29,000 related to a Japanese bilingual program Webster developed at Wellers Hill State School in Brisbane (pictured, Webster, at left)
The charges related to Webster failing to adhere to policy and account for funds, Mr Eberhardt argued.
He provided numerous references paying tribute to Webster, while about 30 supporters packed the courtroom, some standing in the aisle, during proceedings.
Mr Eberhardt said the credit card purchases were overwhelmingly not for Webster’s benefit.
They included the skydiving tickets raffled to staff at a personal development day and gifts and excursions for Japanese guests because it was expected in their culture.
The cash was ‘openly solicited from parents’ and used for incidentals and tips when it wasn’t always possible to get a receipt and he could not account for the money, Mr Eberhardt said.
‘This is not a case where he set out to steal money from those people … let alone benefit himself out of fraud,’ he added.
‘His offending was not motivated by greed or personal benefit.’
Webster was the principal at Wellers Hill State School in the Brisbane suburb of Tarragindi earning up to $155,000 a year when he committed the frauds
In sentencing Webster, Acting Magistrate Patrick Murphy said it was a ‘most unusual case’.
Mr Murphy said he accepted Webster’s motivation was to enrich the experiences and opportunities of students and his school.
‘Whilst his offending is regrettable it seems to me the motivation behind the offending was his vision … than any personal reward,’ he added.
Webster was given a two-and-a-half years prison sentence, fully suspended for three years, and placed on a good behaviour bond for the sick leave fraud.
Webster – who resigned last year after being stood down on full pay in December 2018 – was ordered to pay the full amount in restitution.
Suzette Webster was placed on a good behaviour bond after she previously admitted taking sick leave to attend Melbourne Cup Day functions and travel interstate with her husband.
The couple were charged after an investigation by the state’s Crime and Corruption Commission.
