Annalouise Spence was the private secretary to Australian billionaire Judith Neilson
20:16, 09 May 2026Updated 20:17, 09 May 2026
Annalouise Spence, who is accused of stealing from an Australian billionaire
A Carrickfergus woman has been arrested after being accused of stealing over £850,000 from Australian billionaire Judith Neilson.
Annalouise Spence, 51, who had been working as the private secretary to the billionaire philanthropist, was denied bail on Friday May 8, when she appeared in court in Sydney accused of a number of offences where she used Neilson’s money without her consent in a multi-year spending spree.
The Irish Times reports that she paid for her own 50th birthday party at a five star hotel in Sydney which Neilson attended and Spence is alleged to have spent thousands on custom napkins, designer shoes and an evening gown. She is also accused of buying artwork, chauffeur services, mattress toppers and Cartier jewellery.
Judith Neilson
Spence is also alleged to have spent tens of thousands on holidays in America, personalised diamond and gold jewellery and designer clothes.
She is understood to have worked as a personal secretary for Neilson for eight years. Her alleged actions came to light after another staff member, who was reconciling Neilson’s bank account noticed AUS$59,000 had been spent on a pink-gold Rolex watch with a trader in London.
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