'Low act': rural artist admits defrauding dead friend
Her friend, Robert Randall, died in Orange hospital, in central western NSW, on August 17, 2024, which is when a small but "despicable" spending spree began.
When the hospital told her of Mr Randall's death, she didn't inform his family, but instead used his card to make purchases and withdraw money totalling more than $5000 over two months.
She withdrew large sums from an ATM at her local shopping centre, as well as making trips to McDonald's and supermarkets.
One week after police issued a public appeal for information about Mr Randall's whereabouts on October 2, Bayliss withdrew $1000.
Bayliss, 47, faced Orange Local Court on Wednesday, where she pleaded guilty to three counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.
Prosecutors withdrew six further charges, to which she had previously pleaded not guilty.
Aboriginal Legal Service solicitor Laura Horton said Bayliss called the ambulance for Mr Randall when he became unwell at her house and the hospital informed her of his death.
"This caused a significant toll on her, she just lost someone she'd known and been in a relationship with for 10 years," Ms Horton told the court.
Police prosecutor Carl Smith said the court could hold doubts about Bayliss's claim she was in a relationship with the 65-year-old.
Court documents described Mr Randall as a "recluse", who lived with his mother until her death in 2017 and was mostly estranged from his family.
"Unfortunately Mr Randall is not here today to tell us his side of the relationship," Sergeant Smith said.
Magistrate Gary Wilson imposed a three-year conditional release order and did not record a conviction.
While the financial offending was on the low end of the scale, Bayliss took advantage of someone close to her, Mr Wilson said.
"There's no doubt, Ms Bayliss, that this ... was an extremely low act," he said.
"To take advantage of your partner, who was a long-time friend, in the manner in which you did is just despicable."
On her website, Bayliss describes herself as a contemporary Indigenous painter who hopes to build a sense of belonging through art.
Her Instagram page, which is followed by nearly 38,000 people, describes her as an entrepreneur, an award-winning artist and author.
Outside court, Mr Randall's brother - who asked not to be named - also raised doubts about the relationship with Ms Bayliss.
"We spoke to him at the beginning of (August 2024) ... it was the best we'd ever heard Robert," the brother said.
Bayliss left the court with a supporter and declined to comment on the case.
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