Chef who stole $85k from Centrelink jailed

A Victorian chef who stole more than $85,000 from Centrelink to feed his gambling addiction has been jailed.

Michael Blackborrow, 40, on Thursday faced Judge Anne Hassan at the Victorian County Court, where he was sentenced to two years in prison.

He must serve eight months before being eligible for a recognisance release.

Blackborrow had pleaded guilty to one charge of dishonestly obtaining financial gain by deception from a commonwealth entity.

The court heard he made 170 false income declarations from 2012 to 2018 while working several jobs including as a chef at a petrol station at Laverton, in Melbourne's southwest.

Judge Hassan said Blackborrow's gambling addiction and heavy losses explained but did not excuse his actions.

"The integrity of the entire system is undermined," Judge Hassan said.

"The consequences are that welfare recipients may be demonised ... and this may cause hardship to legitimate recipients of social welfare."

She also said his "modest" repayment of $3600 showed remorse but his offending only ended when he was caught.