Tracey Lee Kraljevic had worked for customs for six years when she was given a work credit card in February 2007.

Two weeks later, she used the card to buy $69 worth of goods from JB Hi-Fi. That was the first of 62 fraudulent purchases made on the card, between 2007 and 2011.

To cover her tracks, she entered false descriptions of her purchases into a customs reporting system.

Despite the unsophisticated nature of the fraud – one of the transactions was made at Toys ‘R’ Us – customs did not pick up on the spending spree.

Magistrate Beth Campbell said the department seemed to have had poor checks and balances.

Eventually, Kraljevic alerted others to discrepancies, effectively making her actions known to her colleagues.

She offered a series of explanations for the purchases, saying some she did not recall, some were simple mistakes, while others were made by her daughter, or due to her accidental addition of the card to her PayPal account.

She faced 62 charges relating to her improper use of the Commonwealth credit card, and one charge of making a false statutory declaration.

She pleaded guilty to all charges at the second mention of the case, and was brought before Ms Campbell for sentencing on Monday afternoon.

Her lawyer Rachel Bird told the court that Kraljevic had suffered depression and anxiety, and was at her ‘‘lowest point’’ at the time of the offences. Ms Bird said evidence of her client’s mental issues was not offered as a way for her to avoid responsibility for the crimes or to traverse her guilty plea.

The court heard the woman’s new public service employer had given her ‘‘extraordinary’’ references, praising her integrity and trustworthiness.

That agency employed her despite her being ‘‘completely open and honest’’ with them about the charges she faced. Kraljevic has since re-established her public service career and has a clear treatment plan for her mental-health issues.

The Commonwealth prosecution suggested that a suspended prison sentence was appropriate in the case.

Ms Campbell found there was little chance of re-offending, and commended Kraljevic for not letting the offending define her future, and for not hiding from the world.

She said the glowing references from her new employer were significant, and said she appeared to be ‘‘a different woman’’.

Kraljevic was sentenced to 12 months’ jail, wholly suspended. She was put on a good behaviour order for 12 months with a surety of $1000.

Ms Campbell said she had no doubt Kraljevic’s actions would follow her for the rest of her life, but said she should not be punished forever.