Man jailed for stealing $450,000 from Australia Post through family business Ongerup

A man who stole more than $450,000 from Australia Post to pay off gambling debts while running the post office of a small Western Australian town will serve a prison sentence.

Harry James Creagh, 32, pleaded guilty to taking money in 110 transactions in just over a year while working at the general store in Ongerup, 400 kilometers south- east of Perth.

The 32-year-old appeared in Albany District Court on Tuesday and was sentenced to three years in prison, with two years suspended.

Creagh’s father, who owned the business and was unaware of the theft, repaid the money after his son was robbed and was among a number of local supporters present in the public gallery.

“I didn’t know what to do but I kept digging.”

The court heard Creagh repeatedly transferred funds from Australia Post to his personal account between June 2021 and August 2022.

He eventually admitted the thefts to Auspost officials during an audit.

After an internal investigation by Australia Post, the matter was taken over by WA Police and Creagh made a full admission to officers, telling them she had gotten “out of control”.

Creagh had worked for his father’s general store in Ongerup, of which the post office was part, since 2014.

Defense lawyer Sonia Anderson said Creagh took the money when he was struggling to repay a large $7,000 gambling debt, several personal loans and a mortgage.

She said debt collectors called him regularly and he planned to use some of the money to gamble and use the winnings to repay Australia Post.

Although Creagh took $452,850, he transferred $131,350 to Australia Post before being arrested, leaving a total of $321,500 taken.

Ms Anderson said her goal was not to take money just to play with it, but to get herself out of this difficult situation.

“It was the gambling debt that allowed him to delude himself,” she said.

District Court Judge John Staude agreed the offense appeared to be motivated by poor decision-making in a desperate situation.

Warning of punishment to others

In a letter to the court, Creagh expressed remorse for his actions, and a number of letters from other members of his community vouched for his reputation as an active volunteer.

“You have gained nothing from this offense except a reduced inheritance and a mark of dishonesty on your record,” Judge Staude said.

While acknowledging that Creagh was unlikely to reoffend and that he had taken steps to resolve his personal and financial problems, Judge Staude said there was a need for a sanction that would deter other figures in positions of trust similar.