Judicial Decision and Bail Denial
Local Court Judge Lucas Swan denied bail for 50-year-old Annalouise Spence on Thursday, citing an “overwhelming” case against her. Spence, who served as a private secretary to billionaire philanthropist Judith Neilson for eight years, faces 68 counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception. During the hearing, which took place via audiovisual link, the court heard that Spence had already repaid $840,000 of the alleged $1.6 million misappropriated funds. Judge Swan dismissed the relevance of the repayment at this stage, noting such actions are better suited for future sentencing submissions. The case is scheduled to return to court on May 7.
The Alleged Fraudulent Spending
Police allege that in March 2023, Spence impersonated Neilson to secure a supplementary Centurion American Express card without her employer's knowledge. Over the subsequent two years, investigators claim Spence bypassed the finance team’s oversight to fund a lavish lifestyle. Notable expenditures cited in court include a $38,000 five-night stay at The Carlyle hotel in New York in October 2023, and $23,000 spent on Loro Piana apparel in September 2024. Additionally, records show a $30,000 transaction at the online retailer Mytheresa shortly after the Loro Piana purchase.
Discovery and Police Raid
The investigation began in September 2025 when Neilson’s new personal assistant, Katy Lloyd Jones, identified irregularities while reconciling accounts. Lloyd Jones flagged a $58,593 purchase of a vintage pink-gold Rolex from the Vintage Watch Company in London, noting that Neilson does not wear jewelry or luxury watches. Further scrutiny revealed a $21,000 charge at Harrods in Knightsbridge shortly thereafter. Following these findings, police executed a search warrant at Spence’s Erskineville residence on Wednesday, seizing 115 items including designer handbags, artwork, and monogrammed Louis Vuitton trunks.
Defense and Medical Context
Solicitor Bryan Wrench, representing Spence, argued that the police presence during the arrest—which involved approximately 20 riot squad officers—was excessive. Wrench also provided the court with details regarding Spence’s health, stating she was diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder late last year. He noted that she spent one month at St John of God Hospital in November 2025. The defense had offered $20,000 as security for bail, but the court maintained that the risk of witness interference and the scale of the financial crime necessitated continued detention.
Report based on information from The Age.
