Disgraced former NSW RSL president Don Rowe has avoided jail and been fined $2,000 for fraud offences.

Key points: Mr Rowe used the credit card to pay for expenses including $9,000 of phone bills

Mr Rowe used the credit card to pay for expenses including $9,000 of phone bills He was fined $2,000 this morning after being found guilty on two counts of fraud

He was fined $2,000 this morning after being found guilty on two counts of fraud He was stood down in 2014 after an ultimatum by a former national RSL president

The 71-year-old Vietnam veteran was in February found guilty of two counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage.

During his 11-year tenure, he used the RSL's credit card to pay for expenses which included more than $9,000 in family phone bills and a $343 Sydney hotel room for his daughter.

Rowe appeared in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court via audio-visual link from Armidale, supported by his family.

Magistrate Jennifer Atkinson accepted Rowe's post-traumatic stress disorder was longstanding and his position in the institution required him to be away from his family.

"What is important is Mr Rowe was in a position of trust as president of the RSL," she said.

Magistrate Atkinson fined Rowe $1500 for the phone bill fraud and $500 for the hotel-related offending.

She recorded convictions for both counts and placed Rowe on a two-year community corrections order.

"Mr Rowe, you need to understand that with these orders if there is anything that brings you back to the court, we can take action to revoke these orders and we can re-sentence you for these matters," she said.

Don Rowe used the RSL credit card to pay for car loan repayments, phone bills and hotel accommodation. ( ABC News )

Four of Rowe's family members accumulated a combined phone bill of $9,069.07, but Rowe only provided cover sheets to avoid detailed scrutiny.

The court has previously heard, after buying a $60,000 car in 2007 by extending his home loan, Rowe claimed the maximum RSL vehicle allowance of $1,600 per month to pay for it.

The Crown previously described his offending as "systemic" and said he knew how to take advantage of the RSL "gravy train".

Rowe paid back part of the money in 2015 and, despite making admissions during a police interview two years later, he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His barrister April Francis today said he had not admitted to the component of "deception", which was a difficult legal issue.

Ms Francis said Rowe had provided more than 30 years of voluntary service and that the court case took a toll on his "particularly fragile" mental health.

Rowe cited ill health when he stood down in 2014, but he later admitted he was given an ultimatum by former national RSL president Rod White.

RSL taken to 'brink of destruction'

Police Minister David Elliott said he was "delighted" by the outcome but "it's unfortunate it's the week before ANZAC Day".

"Has justice been done? Well that's for others to conclude but I'm delighted that at least he's been given some sort of punishment," he said.

Mr Elliot said he had been "horrified" when, as Veterans' Affairs Minister, he first heard the allegations against Rowe.

"I can only apologise to veterans and their families that they've been let down so badly."

The State Government ordered a 2017 inquiry into alleged financial mismanagement at NSW RSL, conducted by former Supreme Court Judge Patricia Bergin.

In her report Justice Bergin found the RSL had been taken to the "brink of destruction" by rorting, and there were attempts to cover it up.

Rowe spent $465,376 on his RSL credit card between 2009 and 2014, according to Justice Bergin's report which was made public in January 2018.

He was also found to have allowed his son to stay for free in RSL-owned accommodation in Sydney's CBD for seven years.

Justice Bergin described Rowe's conduct as "reprehensible" and said it was a catalyst to expose many other problems.