A Sunshine Coast mum has faced court after her children were kicked out of a Toowoomba private school over unpaid fees and debt collectors called. Read what happened in court.
Ashleigh Lauren Cole, 31, faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on May 16, 2023 on one charge of failing to declare bankruptcy to obtain goods or services. She pleaded guilty to the charge on an earlier date, the court was told.
Cole was supported by one person in the public gallery.
The court was told Cole went bankrupt in August 2018, shortly after her husband who went bankrupt in June, 2018.
In 2019, they enrolled two of their primary-school aged children at Highlands Christian College in Kearneys Spring, Toowoomba, to start in 2020 and 2o21.
Toowoomba Grammar School. Generic image.
But in May 2020, Cole went bankrupt a second time and the couple later pulled their children out of the school in June 2021, claiming they were unable to afford the fees.
On June 14, 2021, Cole’s husband was discharged from his bankruptcy, the court was told, and the children were enrolled at Toowoomba Grammar School in East Toowoomba.
This school had higher fees than the previous school, the court was told.
Cole failed to disclose she had gone bankrupt while co-signing signing an enrolment document, requiring a minimum payment of $8,361.25, the court was told.
The children were later unenrolled by the school in January 2022 over unpaid school fees and the debt was referred to debt collectors.
Defence barrister Kelvin Pearson said the offence came from a lack of knowledge and impulse.
“This form was signed on the start of the new term, she’s standing at the reception counter at the school with the kids behind her in their school hats and bags and the school says to her and her husband ‘just sign here’,” he said.
Ashleigh Lauren Cole leaving Maroochydore Court House.
Mr Pearson told the court his client was employed as a disability support service manager and was remorseful for her actions.
A doctor’s letter tendered to the court stated Ms Cole had been diagnosed with anxiety.
The court was told Cole had a previously been charged with fraud, which she was sentenced for in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court in March 2020.
Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist said this matter was “objectively serious” and he did not accept Mr Pearson’s claims his client’s actions came from a place of ignorance.
Cole was fined $1500 for the offence and ordered to pay $7,077.50 in compensation to the school.
A conviction was recorded.
Toowoomba Grammar School has been contacted for comment.
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