Vic man who stole to fund fantasy jailed

For seven years the financial controller of a Melbourne four-star hotel siphoned hundreds and thousands of dollars to fund a fantasy life.

Now, he will spend at least two and a half years in jail.

Gary Robert Johnson, 57, of Gisborne, this week pleaded guilty to eight counts of theft before the Victorian County Court.

He admitted to stealing more than $680,000 from Flagstaff Gardens Radisson to spend on a personal trainer, hotel rooms, lavish dinners and three male prostitutes from 2007 to mid-2014.

Johnson transferred $199,000 of Radisson's money to a male escort.

Two other male escorts received amounts totalling $16,250 and $47,395.

A further $4600 was spent on a personal trainer.

Johnson, who started working at the hotel in 2005, was a married father of two who appeared to live a normal suburban life.

He resigned last June following an investigation prompted by financial irregularities.

The court heard he felt a great deal of guilt over the recent death of his wife, whose health rapidly deteriorated following Johnson's arrest in January.

Judge Irene Lawson on Friday said Johnson's offending was serious, protracted and involved large sums of money.

She jailed him for four years and six months and ordered him to serve a minimum of two and a half years before he's eligible for parole.