A Sydney woman feels shame and regret after her mental conditions like narcissism led to her defrauding millions of dollars from National Australia Bank, a court has been told.
During a sentence hearing in Downing Centre District Court on Wednesday, clinical psychologist Marianne Plahn said Helen Mary Rosamond had shown significant insight into her offences.
"Her general feeling was that she wanted to somehow express her regret and her shame," Ms Plahn told Judge Robert Sutherland.
"She really felt that she wanted to have that opportunity to say sorry to His Honour. I thought that was quite moving in a way and I thought that came from a very truthful place."
In November last year, Rosamond was found guilty by a jury of 59 counts of giving a corrupt benefit to former NAB chief-of-staff Rosemary Rogers and a further 29 counts of obtaining or attempting to obtain property by deception for herself. She was acquitted of two charges.
Rogers pleaded guilty to her role in the same scheme in February 2020 and is serving a maximum jail sentence of eight years with a non-parole period of four years and four months.
Between 2013 and 2018, Rosamond splashed out millions in kickbacks to Rogers and herself by falsifying and inflating invoices from her company Human Group.Â
In a report filed with the District Court, Ms Plahn said Rosamond exhibited symptoms of various personality conditions, including attachment disorder, adjustment disorder and narcissistic personality disorder.
On Wednesday, Ms Plahn said Rosamond was a "psychologically damaged individual" who was drawn into toxic relationships such as with an allegedly abusive ex-husband and, later on, Rogers.
"She will attach to aggressive people. She will attach to people like her co-worker or boss and feels safe in their rather bullying environment."
The psychologist said Rosamond wanted to change as an individual.
"She didn't want to be like that in the beginning but then being drawn into this vortex of toxicity is something horrific."
Under cross-examination by crown prosecutor Katrina McKenzie, Ms Plahn agreed that Rosamond would have also benefited from her relationship with Rogers but said that over time, she had tried to escape it.
"So in the beginning, it's a collaboration and then the toxicity took over."
Rosamond was under a great deal of stress in prison but was trying to present herself in as positive an image as possible, Judge Sutherland heard.
"That's how she was surviving in jail in presenting as powerfully and as co-operatively as possible under the circumstances," Ms Plahn said.
The hearing continues.