Magistrate declines plea from woman accused of defrauding 62 brides

A magistrate has declined to hear a guilty plea from a woman accused of defrauding dozens of brides because he is concerned her alleged offending warrants a longer prison sentence than he has the power to hand down.

The Cairns Magistrates Court heard Dominique Marianne Rolland, 53, spent about two years working for Jonovia Bridal in Cairns, a shop whose alleged "underhanded practices" involved stringing-along desperate brides who were still without their wedding dresses right up to their big day.

Ms Rolland is charged with one count of fraud, totalling $121,482.

The court heard the alleged victims included 62 brides and one debutante, along with 12 of their family members who also contributed to payment for dresses.

The court heard the fraud took place between June 1, 2021, and August 1, 2023.

Prosecutor Thomas Feeney said it was "an unusual example" of fraud because, aside from Ms Rolland's wage, she "did not receive any benefit directly of the payment of deposits" at the shop.

The court heard Ms Rolland intended to plead guilty, and both her lawyer and the prosecutor sought to have the case dealt with in the Magistrates Court.

However, Magistrate Terence Browne declined to finalise the case on Thursday because he was "concerned the defendant might not be adequately punished on a summary conviction".

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment, but Magistrate Browne would have been limited to sentencing Ms Rolland to a maximum of three years had he agreed to hear the case.

"Three years falls at the very bottom of the [sentencing] range and in determining whether I exercise my discretion … I am concerned the court might feel fettered in proceeding with the sentencing process," Magistrate Browne said.

He instead adjourned the case for committal proceedings so the charge could be heard at a later date by a judge in the District Court, which has greater sentencing powers.

Distressed bride 'fobbed off'

Jonovia Bridal was owned and operated by Alison Helen Davies, 56, who was also facing fraud charges, the court heard.

Ms Davies was yet to enter a plea and was due to appear at a pre-trial hearing in the District Court in Cairns later this year.

The brides affected by the alleged fraud represented about 10 per cent of the shop's client base, the court heard on Thursday.

Ms Davies was alleged to be "the prime mover" and main beneficiary of what took place, the court was told.

However, by April 2023, Ms Rolland was "a willing participant in the conduct of the business", Mr Feeney told the court.

By that point Ms Rolland had worked there for almost two years.

Mr Feeney said Ms Rolland had sent a message to "fob off a complainant who is asking about her dress" which had been ordered from a Chinese manufacturer but had not arrived.

The court heard Ms Rolland took a screenshot of a complaint from a bride and sent it to Ms Davies, with the comment: "She's a dickhead."

However, defence lawyer Bebe Mellick told the court when a "desperate" bride came into the shop about two weeks before her wedding, still sweating on the arrival of her dress, Ms Rolland paid the woman $4,000 from her own pocket.

Mr Mellick said his client was "feeling absolutely terrible the dress wasn't going to be ready" and paid her the money "hoping" her employer would reimburse her.

"My client was ultimately repaid, although in dribs and drabs," Mr Mellick told the court.

Magistrate Browne acknowledged Ms Rolland's cooperation and her role in the alleged offending might mitigate any sentence she would receive.

The case is due to return to court in September.