A MAN who stole almost $2 million from his bank to fund an “extravagant” lifestyle while still claiming Centrelink benefits has been jailed for two years.

Luke Brett Moore, 27, was yesterday sentenced to four years and six months at the Downing Centre District Court for obtaining financial advantage by deception and three years for knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime.

He will serve the sentences concurrently, with a non-parole period of two years, three months.

Moore opened a Complete Freedom account with St George in March 2010. An administrative error allowed for him to overdraw the account.

media_camera A Michael Jordan shirt seized by police during a 2012 raid on Luke Moore’s home. media_camera One of the items Moore bought with the stolen money.

Instead of notifying the bank Moore made increasingly large withdrawals, transferring the funds into multiple NAB savings accounts and a PayPal account he opened under his own name.

From July 2010 to August 2012 he took $1,988,535.25 from St George, which he used to buy several luxury cars — including a Maserati and an Aston Martin — and a brand new Stessl Sea Hawk speedboat.

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The money also funded a mortgage, insurance, Foxtel bills and shopping sprees for sporting memorabilia, paintings and jewellery.

media_camera A Maserati vehicle seized by police during a 2012 raid on the home of Brett Moore, who used almost $2million in stolen money to fund an extravagant lifestyle. Picture: NSW Police Media

Judge Stephen Norrish noted Moore had “ample time” to stop taking the funds, and he was not convinced by Moore’s explanation during the trial that he did not stop because the bank “had not told him to”. He said Moore would have had sufficient knowledge of the offence as he had previously worked as a bank teller.

Moore wept through much of the proceedings, while his partner and mother broke down and had to leave the court several times.

He will be eligible for parole in May 2017.