Former NRL player Tim Simona has been convicted and handed an 18-month good behaviour bond for auctioning signed football jerseys for charity but using the money he raised for gambling.
The 25-year-old pleaded guilty in May to a charge of dishonestly obtaining property by deception.
The former Wests Tigers player had taken Tigers jerseys to training sessions to be autographed by other players, auctioned them on social media saying he was raising funds for Camp Quality, then pocketed the money.
Campbelltown Local Court was told Simona obtained $6,600 from the scheme over three years and used the money to pay for his gambling addiction.
In sentencing Simona, Magistrate Ian Guy described the fraud as "a cruel hoax upon members of the community".
"There was a significant level of sophistication in the fraud you committed and it wasn't a single event," Magistrate Guy said.
"You took advantage of your profile within your industry for your ends and it was a breach of trust ... this is not a trivial matter."
Simona's lawyer told the court her client had been working two jobs since he was dismissed by the NRL, including one as a personal trainer.
She said Simona was very remorseful and "admits that what he did was stupid and dishonest".
The former Tigers player faced a maximum penalty of two years behind bars, but the magistrate gave him a discounted sentence on account of his remorse, his early guilty plea and the fact that his only other brushes with the law had been driving offences.
Court documents reveal Simona used Camp Quality because it was identifiable to people and he thought it would help him raise more money.
He would drive up the price by telling bidders they were close to winning the item, then when the price was suitable he announced they had won.
He has now paid $6,600 to Camp Quality and has been seeing a psychologist to help him with his gambling addiction.
He was supported in court today by a large group of family and friends.
