Jail for accountant who fleeced famous Australian musicians

An accountant who stole more than $2 million from some of Australia's most well-known musicians and restaurateurs has been jailed for six years.

Damien Luscombe, 38, was a partner and business manager at accounting firm White Sky when he began transferring money that should have gone to his client's bank accounts into his own.

Between September 2011 and September 2022, Luscombe made at least 337 false documents to facilitate 239 fraudulent transactions.

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He would either doctor legitimate invoices or create fake ones with the billing bank details changed to his personal Commonwealth Bank account.

Luscombe also created false emails purporting to be from clients or their managers requesting payments, again using his personal bank account information.

His senior role meant only his signature was required to authorise the documents.

In total, Luscombe took $2,166,036.29 over the 11-year period.

His victims included performers Gotye, Angus and Julia Stone, and Peking Duk as well as the owners of Melbourne restaurants Mr Miyagi and The Meatball and Wine Bar.

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In sentencing Luscombe on Wednesday, County Court Judge George Georgiou said he had betrayed the trust of his victims.

"You were defrauding them of their money while purporting to be their friend," the judge said.

Judge Georgiou accepted Luscombe committed his crimes to fund his gambling addiction but said it was not an excuse.

"You had ample opportunity to reflect on the wrongfulness of what you were doing and seek professional help," the judge said

"You did not do so."

He jailed Luscombe for six years but he will be eligible for parole after three years and nine months.