Sports journalist with gambling addiction shown sympathy by ex-boss

A Wimmera couple who had $117,000 stolen from their home by a gambling-addicted journalist they employed has pleaded with a judge to spare him jail time.

David and Christine Ward, whose family operates the regional media network Wimmera Mallee News, had their retirement nest egg stolen in the year to March 2025.

Sports journalist Christopher John Graetz, 43, was living at the Wards' home for 14 months from September 2023 while he was working for the Warracknabeal Herald newspaper.

Last week, the Victorian County Court heard that Mr Graetz, who pleaded guilty to burglary and four counts of theft, had told the Wards he had a gambling problem, which they offered to help him with.

Stealing from a bank vault

The Wards live in a former bank building in the Wimmera town of Warracknabeal.

Their home contained a steel and concrete vault with a safe installed inside, containing a cash drawer.

Access to the vault, safe and drawer required two separate keys, and knowledge of a lock combination known only to the Wards.

The court heard Mr Graetz occasionally stayed at the home by himself while the Wards travelled.

At one point, the Wards gave Mr Graetz access to the vault to store a stamp collection.

In March 2025, he was charged with stealing $580 from a desk, $500 from Mr Ward's wallet, $700 from the Warracknabeal Herald, and $116,000 from the safe.

Chasing losses

The court heard Mr Graetz had secretly been depositing the Wards' money into two bank accounts in increments of up to $10,000. He would use the money to chase his losses on betting accounts. 

He said he felt awful about his actions, stealing from a couple who had "treated me like a son".

In a victim impact statement, the Wards said they felt betrayed and taken advantage of by a person they were trying to help.

Mr Graetz held his head in his hands for most of the court proceeding.

Time to pay it back

The Wards are seeking compensation of $112,050 through the court.

Mr Graetz's defence lawyer revealed his client had already paid back $5,800, withdrawn $20,000 from his super to attend a four-week rehabilitation service for gambling addiction, and attended 26 counselling sessions. 

In his victim impact statement, David Ward described Mr Graetz as "quite a good journalist", and he helped the journalist find new full-time work

During the hearing, Mr Ward asked to address Judge Kellie Blair directly.

He said he and his wife did not want a custodial sentence for Mr Graetz, arguing incarcerating him would "be an impost on the state".

They supported his sentence being deferred, and said Mr Graetz had "great potential" for rehabilitation.

"I hope the help he's able to get will turn his life around," Mr Ward told the judge.

The court heard Mr Graetz could save $10,000 by March next year through a combination of full-time work and freelance journalism.

"It's time to put your money where your mouth is, and demonstrate you've put this behind you," Judge Blair told Mr Graetz while deferring the sentence to assess his prospects of rehabilitation.