A former Guide Dogs Victoria manager who defrauded the charity of $210,000 to install a pool at his home and pay for restaurant meals, groceries and other personal items has been spared jail.

Between 2013 and 2016 Sandro Cirianni issued the charity with 45 false invoices to cover home improvements, misused a corporate credit card 117 times for personal expenses and regularly filled up his own car with a charity fuel card, all while he was a member of the organisation's leadership team on a $162,000 salary as general manager of clients and guide dogs services.



Former Guide Dogs Victoria manager Sandro Cirianni leaving the County Court on Wednesday. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

During his prolonged run of offending, Cirianni was feted among the sector as the not-for-profit manager of the year in 2015. His offending was discovered after he resigned from the charity in March 2016.

He fronted the County Court on Wednesday facing the prospect of jail after pleading guilty to three charges of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception, having previously argued through his lawyers he stole from his work because he was worried about his own mortality and wanted to leave something for his family.