Sentencing Snapshot no. 169 describes sentencing outcomes for the offence of obtaining a financial advantage by deception in the County and Supreme Courts of Victoria between 2009–10 and 2013–14.
More recent Snapshots are available for this offence.
You can also find statistics for this offence on SACStat.
Authored and published by the Sentencing Advisory Council
© Copyright State of Victoria, Sentencing Advisory Council, 2015
Snapshot 169: Obtaining a Financial Advantage by Deception
Introduction
This Sentencing Snapshot describes sentencing outcomes[1] for the offence of obtaining a financial advantage by deception in the County and Supreme Courts of Victoria between 2009–10 and 2013–14.[2] Adjustments made by the Court of Appeal to sentence or conviction as at June 2014 have been incorporated into the data in this Snapshot.
Detailed data on obtaining a financial advantage by deception and other offences are available on SACStat.
A person who, by any deception, dishonestly obtains any financial advantage for him- or herself or for another person is guilty of obtaining financial advantage by deception. Obtaining financial advantage by deception is an indictable offence that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment[3] and/or a fine of 1,200 penalty units.[4] Indictable offences are more serious offences triable before a judge and jury in the County or Supreme Court. Obtaining financial advantage by deception can also be tried summarily by the Magistrates’ Court if the financial advantage involved meets certain criteria, the Magistrates’ Court considers it appropriate, and the defendant consents.
Obtaining a financial advantage by deception was the principal offence[5] in 2.1% of cases sentenced in the higher courts between 2009–10 and 2013–14.
People Sentenced
From 2009–10 to 2013–14, 208 people were sentenced in the higher courts for a principal offence of obtaining a financial advantage by deception.
Figure 1 shows the number of people sentenced for the principal offence of obtaining a financial advantage by deception by financial year. There were 64 people sentenced for this offence in 2013–14, up by 27 people from the previous year. The number of people sentenced was highest in 2013–14 (64 people).
Figure 1: The number of people sentenced for obtaining a financial advantage by deception by financial year, 2009–10 to 2013–14
Financial year | Total |
---|---|
2009-10 | 31 |
2010-11 | 46 |
2011-12 | 30 |
2012-13 | 37 |
2013-14 | 64 |
Total | 208 |
Sentence Types and Trends
Figure 2 shows the total number of people sentenced for obtaining a financial advantage by deception and the number that received an immediate custodial sentence. An immediate custodial sentence is one that involves at least some element of immediate (as opposed to wholly suspended) imprisonment or detention.[6] Over the five-year period, 49% of people were given an immediate custodial sentence. This peaked at 57% (17 of 30) in 2011–12 before decreasing to 38% (14 of 38) in 2012–13. In 2013–14, 42% of people sentenced (27 of 64) were given an immediate custodial sentence.
Figure 2: The number of people sentenced for obtaining a financial advantage by deception and the number who received an immediate custodial sentence, 2009–10 to 2013–14
Financial year | Custodial | Non-Custodial | Total |
---|---|---|---|
2009-10 | 17 | 14 | 31 |
2010-11 | 26 | 20 | 46 |
2011-12 | 17 | 13 | 30 |
2012-13 | 14 | 23 | 37 |
2013-14 | 27 | 37 | 64 |
Total | 101 | 107 | 208 |
Table 1 shows the number of people sentenced for obtaining a financial advantage by deception from 2009–10 to 2013–14 by the types of sentences imposed.
Over the five-year period, around 4 in 10 people sentenced for obtaining a financial advantage by deception received a period of imprisonment (37% or 77 of 208 people), while 32% received a wholly suspended sentence of imprisonment, and 9% received a partially suspended sentence of imprisonment.
The number and percentage of people receiving imprisonment for obtaining a financial advantage by deception were lowest during 2012–13 (10 of 37 people or 27%). The number of people receiving imprisonment for obtaining a financial advantage by deception was highest during 2013–14 (21 people), while the percentage was highest during 2011–12 (15 of 30 people, or 50%).
The number of people given a wholly suspended sentence was lowest during 2011–12 (9 people) and highest during 2013–14 (17 people). The percentage of people receiving a wholly suspended sentence was lowest in 2013–14 (27%) and highest in 2012–13 (41%).
Table 1: The number and percentage of people sentenced for obtaining a financial advantage by deception by sentence type, 2009–10 to 2013–14
Sentence type | 2009–10 | 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Imprisonment | 11 (35%) | 20 (43%) | 15 (50%) | 10 (27%) | 21 (33%) | 77 (37%) |
Wholly suspended sentence | 10 (32%) | 15 (33%) | 9 (30%) | 15 (41%) | 17 (27%) | 66 (32%) |
Partially suspended sentence | 4 (13%) | 5 (11%) | 2 (7%) | 4 (11%) | 4 (6%) | 19 (9%) |
Community correction order | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | 3 (10%) | 8 (22%) | 7 (11%) | 18 (9%) |
Fine | 1 (3%) | 2 (4%) | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | 12 (19%) | 15 (7%) |
Aggregate imprisonment | 2 (6%) | 1 (2%) | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | 2 (3%) | 5 (2%) |
Community-based order | 2 (6%) | 2 (4%) | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | 4 (2%) |
Aggregate intensive correction order | 1 (3%) | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | 1 (<1%) |
Home detention | 0 (–) | 1 (2%) | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | 1 (<1%) |
Mix (wholly suspended sentence and fine) | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | 1 (3%) | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | 1 (<1%) |
Adjourned undertaking with conviction | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | 0 (–) | 1 (2%) | 1 (<1%) |
People sentenced | 31 | 46 | 30 | 37 | 64 | 208 |
Age and Gender of People Sentenced
Data on the age and gender of people sentenced for obtaining a financial advantage by deception are available on SACStat.
Principal and Total Effective Sentences
Two methods for describing sentence types and lengths are examined in this section. One relates to the principal sentence and examines sentences for the offence at a charge level. The other relates to the total effective sentence and examines sentences for the offence at a case level.
The principal sentence is the individual sentence imposed for the charge that is the principal offence.[7]
The total effective sentence in a case with a single charge is the principal sentence. The total effective sentence in a case with multiple charges is the sentence that results from the court ordering the individual sentences for each charge to be served concurrently (at the same time) or wholly or partially cumulatively (one after the other).
In many cases, the total effective sentence imposed on a person will be longer than the principal sentence. Principal sentences for obtaining a financial advantage by deception must be considered in this broader context. The following sections analyse the use of imprisonment for the offence of obtaining a financial advantage by deception from 2009–10 to 2013–14.
Principal Sentence of Imprisonment
A total of 77 people received a principal sentence of imprisonment for obtaining a financial advantage by deception between 2009–10 and 2013–14.
Figure 3 shows these people by the length of their imprisonment term.[8] The principal sentences of imprisonment ranged from 9 months to 9 years, while the median principal sentence of imprisonment was 2 years (meaning that half of the imprisonment lengths were below 2 years and half were above).
The most common range of imprisonment length imposed was 2 to less than 3 years (30 people).
Figure 3: The number of people sentenced to imprisonment for obtaining a financial advantage by deception by length of imprisonment term, 2009–10 to 2013–14
Imprisonment length | Number of people |
---|---|
Less than 1 year | 2 |
1 to less than 2 years | 19 |
2 to less than 3 years | 30 |
3 to less than 4 years | 17 |
4 to less than 5 years | 6 |
5 to less than 6 years | 1 |
6 to less than 7 years | 1 |
7 to less than 8 years | 0 |
8 to less than 9 years | 0 |
9 to less than 10 years | 1 |
People sentenced | 77 |
As shown in Figure 4, the average length of imprisonment term imposed on people sentenced for obtaining a financial advantage by deception ranged from 1 year and 11 months in 2009–10 to 2 years and 9 months in 2013–14.
Figure 4: The average length of imprisonment term imposed on people sentenced for obtaining a financial advantage by deception, 2009–10 to 2013–14
Financial year | Average length of imprisonment term |
---|---|
2009-10 (n= 11) | 1y, 11m |
2010-11 (n= 20) | 2y, 8m |
2011-12 (n= 15) | 2y, 3m |
2012-13 (n= 10) | 2y, 6m |
2013-14 (n= 21) | 2y, 9m |
Other Offences Finalised at the Same Hearing
Often people prosecuted for obtaining a financial advantage by deception face multiple charges, which are finalised at the same hearing. This section looks at the range of offences for which offenders have been sentenced at the same time as being sentenced for the principal offence of obtaining a financial advantage by deception.
Figure 5 shows the number of people sentenced for the principal offence of obtaining a financial advantage by deception by the total number of offences for which sentences were set. The number of sentenced offences per person ranged from 1 to 78, while the median was 3 offences. There were 66 people (31.7%) sentenced for the single offence of obtaining a financial advantage by deception. The average number of offences per person sentenced for obtaining a financial advantage by deception was 7.90.
Figure 5: The number of people sentenced for the principal offence of obtaining a financial advantage by deception by the number of sentenced offences per person, 2009–10 to 2013–14
Number of offences | Number of people |
---|---|
1 | 66 |
2 | 23 |
3 | 21 |
4 | 8 |
5-Sep | 39 |
Oct-19 | 30 |
20-49 | 17 |
50+ | 4 |
Total | 208 |
While Figure 5 presents the number of sentenced offences for people sentenced for obtaining a financial advantage by deception, Table 2 shows what the accompanying offences were. It shows the number and percentage of people sentenced for the 10 most common offences. The last column sets out the average number of offences sentenced per person. For example, 18 of the total 208 people (8.7%) also received sentences for theft. On average, they were sentenced for 5.56 counts of theft.
Table 2: The number and percentage of people sentenced for the principal offence of obtaining a financial advantage by deception by the most common offences sentenced and the average number of those offences sentenced, 2009–10 to 2013–14
Offence | No. of cases | % of cases | Average no. of proven offences per case |
---|---|---|---|
1. Obtaining financial advantage by deception | 208 | 100.0 | 5.38 |
2. Obtaining property by deception | 26 | 12.5 | 7.42 |
3. Attempt to obtain a financial advantage by deception | 26 | 12.5 | 3.19 |
4. Theft | 18 | 8.7 | 5.56 |
5. Possess a drug of dependence | 12 | 5.8 | 1.58 |
6. Handling stolen goods | 6 | 2.9 | 1.67 |
7. Make false document to prejudice of other | 5 | 2.4 | 2.20 |
8. Attempt to obtain property by deception | 4 | 1.9 | 6.00 |
9. Use false document to prejudice of other | 4 | 1.9 | 1.50 |
10. Possess identification information of other person to commit an indictable offence | 3 | 1.4 | 2.00 |
Total | 208 | 100.0 | 7.90 |
Total Effective Sentence of Imprisonment
There were 82 people given a total effective sentence of imprisonment.[9] Figure 6 shows the number of people sentenced to imprisonment for obtaining a financial advantage by deception between 2009–10 and 2013–14 by length of total effective sentence. The length of total effective sentences ranged from 9 months to 16 years and 6 months, while the median total effective length of imprisonment was 3 years and 6 months (meaning that half of the total effective sentence lengths were below 3 years and 6 months and half were above).
The most common range of total effective imprisonment length was 2 to less than 3 years (21 people).
Figure 6: The number of people sentenced to imprisonment for obtaining a financial advantage by deception by length of total effective imprisonment term, 2009–10 to 2013–14
Total effective imprisonment length | Number of people |
---|---|
Less than 1 year | 1 |
1 to less than 2 years | 7 |
2 to less than 3 years | 21 |
3 to less than 4 years | 18 |
4 to less than 5 years | 11 |
5 to less than 6 years | 10 |
6 to less than 7 years | 8 |
7 to less than 8 years | 1 |
8 to less than 9 years | 1 |
9 to less than 10 years | 3 |
10 to less than 11 years | 0 |
11 to less than 12 years | 0 |
12 to less than 13 years | 0 |
13 to less than 14 years | 0 |
14 to less than 15 years | 0 |
15 to less than 16 years | 0 |
16 to less than 17 years | 1 |
People sentenced | 82 |
Non-Parole Period
When a person is sentenced to a term of immediate imprisonment of one year or more, the court has the discretion to fix a non-parole period. Where a non-parole period is fixed, the person must serve that period before becoming eligible for parole. Where no non-parole period is set by the court, the person must serve the entirety of the imprisonment term.
Under section 11(4) of the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic), if a court sentences an offender to imprisonment in respect of more than one offence, the non-parole period set by the court must be in respect of the total effective sentence of imprisonment that the offender is liable to serve under all the sentences imposed. In many cases, the non-parole period will be longer than the individual principal sentence for obtaining a financial advantage by deception. Sentences and non-parole periods must be considered in this broader context.
Of the 82 people sentenced to imprisonment for obtaining a financial advantage by deception, 81 were eligible to have a non-parole period fixed.[10] Of these people, 78 were given a non-parole period (96%).[11] Figure 7 shows the number of people sentenced to imprisonment for obtaining a financial advantage by deception between 2009–10 and 2013–14 by length of non-parole period. Non-parole periods ranged from 6 months to 12 years, while the median length of the non-parole period was 1 year and 9 months (meaning that half of the non-parole periods were below 1 year and 9 months and half were above).
The most common range of non-parole period imposed was 1 to less than 2 years (33 people).
Figure 7: The number of people sentenced to imprisonment for obtaining a financial advantage by deception by length of non-parole period, 2009–10 to 2013–14
Non-parole period | Number of people |
---|---|
Less than 1 year | 7 |
1 to less than 2 years | 33 |
2 to less than 3 years | 20 |
3 to less than 4 years | 7 |
4 to less than 5 years | 5 |
5 to less than 6 years | 3 |
6 to less than 7 years | 0 |
7 to less than 8 years | 2 |
8 to less than 9 years | 0 |
9 to less than 10 years | 0 |
10 to less than 11 years | 0 |
11 to less than 12 years | 0 |
12 to less than 13 years | 1 |
No NPP | 2 |
People sentenced | 80 |
Total Effective Sentences of Imprisonment and Non-Parole Periods
Figure 8 presents the average length of total effective sentences of imprisonment compared with the average length of non-parole periods from 2009–10 to 2013–14.
From 2009–10 to 2013–14, the average length of total effective sentences for all people ranged from 3 years and 3 months in 2009–10 to 4 years and 3 months in 2013–14. Over the same period, the average length of non-parole periods ranged from 1 year and 8 months in 2009–10 to 2 years and 8 months in 2010–11 and 2011–12.
Figure 8: The average total effective sentence and the average non-parole period imposed on people sentenced to imprisonment for obtaining a financial advantage by deception, 2009–10 to 2013–14
Financial year | Average total effective imprisonment length | Average non-parole period |
---|---|---|
2009-10 | 3y, 3m | 1y, 8m |
2010-11 | 4y, 1m | 2y, 6m |
2011-12 | 4y, 2m | 2y, 8m |
2012-13 | 4y, 0m | 2y, 4m |
2013-14 | 4y, 3m | 2y, 6m |
Total Effective Sentence of Imprisonment by Non-Parole Period
Data on the total effective sentence of imprisonment by non-parole period for obtaining a financial advantage by deception are available on SACStat.
Non-Imprisonment Sentences
Data on the length of non-imprisonment sentence types, such as community correction orders, suspended sentences, and fines, for obtaining a financial advantage by deception are available on SACStat.
Summary
Between 2009–10 and 2013–14, 208 people were sentenced for obtaining a financial advantage by deception in the higher courts. Of these people, 77 (37%) were given a principal sentence of imprisonment.
The number and range of offences for which people with a principal offence of obtaining a financial advantage by deception were sentenced help explain why imprisonment sentence lengths were longer for the total effective sentence than for the principal sentence. The median total effective imprisonment length was 3 years and 6 months while the median principal imprisonment length was 2 years.
Total effective imprisonment lengths ranged from 9 months to 16 years and 6 months, and non-parole periods (where imposed) ranged from 6 months to 12 years.
Endnotes
1. This series of reports includes custodial and non-custodial supervision orders imposed under Part 5 of the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997 (Vic) as sentencing orders and in the count of people sentenced. These orders are not sentencing orders, as they are imposed in cases where the defendant is found to be unfit to stand trial and/or not guilty because of mental impairment. However, they are included in this report as they are an important form of disposition of criminal charges.
This Sentencing Snapshot is an update of Sentencing Snapshot no. 138, which describes sentencing trends for obtaining a financial advantage by deception between 2007–08 and 2011–12.
2. Data on first instance sentence outcomes presented in this Snapshot were obtained from the Strategic Analysis and Review Team at Court Services Victoria. The Sentencing Advisory Council collects data on appeal outcomes from the Australasian Legal Information Institute. The Sentencing Advisory Council regularly undertakes extensive quality control measures for current and historical data. While every effort is made to ensure that the data analysed in this report are accurate, the data are subject to revision.
3. Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) s 82.
4. The value of a penalty unit changes each year and can be found in the Victorian Government Gazette and on the Victorian Legislative and Parliamentary Documents website.
5. If a person is sentenced for a case with a single charge, the offence for that charge is the principal offence. If a person is sentenced for more than one charge in a single case, the principal offence is the offence for the charge that attracted the most serious sentence according to the sentencing hierarchy.
6. Immediate custodial sentences included imprisonment, partially suspended sentences, and aggregate imprisonment.
7. Refer to Endnote 5.
8. Data presented in this section does not include imprisonment lengths for people who received an aggregate sentence of imprisonment. Sentence lengths for aggregate sentences of imprisonment apply to the whole case, while Figure 3 only deals with sentences of imprisonment for the principal proven offence of obtaining a financial advantage by deception. During the 2009–10 to 2013–14 period, 5 people received an aggregate form of imprisonment.
9. Of the 77 people who were given a principal sentence of imprisonment, all were also given a total effective sentence of imprisonment. The 5 people given an aggregate form of imprisonment received a total effective sentence of imprisonment.
10. One person was not eligible for parole because they were given a total effective sentence length of less than one year.
11. Two people were not given a non-parole period relating to that case alone, but a non-parole period that also related to other cases. It is not possible to determine the length of the non-parole period that relates to these cases. The non-parole periods for these people are excluded from the analysis. A non-parole period was not set for 1 person who was eligible for a non-parole period.