Leigh O’Neill, a former business manager at Craigieburn Secondary College and the Jacana School for Autism, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison for stealing more than $760,000 from the two Melbourne schools between 2019 and 2023. O’Neill used duplicated invoices and manipulated school payment systems to siphon funds, which he then squandered primarily on online gambling, including horse and greyhound betting. Despite the severe impact on school resources—particularly at Jacana, which relies heavily on public funding—O’Neill spent lavishly on himself, including premium AFL Grand Final tickets, while attempting to appear more successful than he actually was.
His long-running deception unravelled after unpaid invoices raised suspicion, triggering an education department investigation that revealed the scale of his offending. In court, Judge Gavan Meredith condemned O’Neill’s chronic gambling addiction, breach of trust, and manipulation of systems taught to him by colleagues, noting the emotional toll on staff and the community. Although O’Neill received support from family, friends, and those who viewed him as kind and community-minded, the judge stressed the seriousness of his actions. O’Neill has begun gambling counselling and must serve a minimum of 20 months in custody.
