WAGGA LOCAL COURT
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PARENTS taking their toddlers to the Hampden Bridge Child Care Centre had no idea the fees they were paying by cash were going straight into the pocket of one of the directors, Janelle Maree Rapley.
Through solicitor Angus Harrowell, 46-year-old Rapley on Wednesday again pleaded guilty in Wagga Local Court to one count of stealing property as a clerk or servant.
She had previously pleaded guilty to the offence in a letter sent to the court from the north coast, where she now lives, but disputed some of the allegations contained in police facts.
The court heard on Wednesday the dispute had been resolved.
Rapley was not in court on Wednesday.
Mr Harrowell presented a medical certificate indicating Rapley was unfit to travel to Wagga, and he said his client was not on bail.
After the facts were handed up to the magistrate the case was adjourned to Byron Bay Local Court for sentence in November.
The police facts said the estimated amount of Rapley's theft was $119,181.
The sum included $81,807 cash and $37,374 in Hampden Bridge Child Care Centre cheques made out to cash.
The facts said parents who dropped their children off at the centre would put their cash payments in an envelope and place the envelope in a cash box at the front of the centre.
Receipts were not issued.
Statements obtained by police from parents had an "underlying theme" that they were continually encouraged to pay by cash and any attempts to make electronic payments - which would provide documentation of payment - were discouraged by Rapley.
The facts said suspicions were raised by an accounting firm in 2012.
Rapley left the childcare centre shortly after the management committee pointed the finger at her in February, 2013.
Police were then called in, and in June this year Rapley was interviewed by police.
According to the tendered facts, Rapley admitted to stealing money, but disputed she had taken $119,181.
"No, it was probably half of that," she told police.
The facts said Rapley justified the theft by believing she was entitled to a higher rate of pay given her position as a director, a position she was appointed to in 2008 after working at the centre as a carer for a number of years.
The theft left the childcare centre financially crippled, and it was forced to close in August.
The centre has asked the court to order Rapley to pay compensation.
Police said Rapley had made some repayments, but the amount returned was negligible and did not continue for long.