Margaret and George Eakins, both from Montrose, appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday, charged with obtaining financial advantage by deception.

The pair pleaded guilty to hosting a lavish four-day, $52,000 wedding at the Daylesford Inn in 2011, where 40 guests were invited to book out the entire hotel.

They paid an initial $7000 deposit, but from that point onwards, never had more than $668 in their account.

November 2012: Bankrupt couple in court over Daylesford wedding blow-out

The court heard that the newlyweds believed a man who handled all their finances would bail them out of the $45,000 debt, because he had the ability to write a $1 billion cheque.

Mrs Eakins also told psychiatrists she had inherited $5 million from her former late husband, although it was revealed he was, in fact, a truck driver with an alcohol and gambling problem, who had little money.

Mrs Eakins, 62, appeared in court in a wheelchair, claiming she had been diagnosed with spinal cancer two years ago.

However Magistrate Peter Couzens said that in a doctor’s report from two years ago, Mrs Eakins made no mention of spinal cancer and it had not been diagnosed in other medical appointments since.

“It is beyond belief she would have seen a doctor in January 2011 and not mentioned being in a wheelchair or mentioned cancer of the spine,” Mr Couzens said.

A document from the couple’s apparent former lawyer was tendered to the court, pleading for the case to “stay out of the paper” so not to attract attention from debt collectors.

However, Mr Couzens angrily tore the letter in half and threw it on the floor, labelling it an “outrage” that the couple would try to fraud the bankruptcy system, as well as the hotel to which they owed 

$45,000.

The couple gave the hotel two cheques that bounced in May and June last year, each valued at $45,000, 

“You couldn’t even afford to pay for the musicians ($2000). The bells were ringing,” Mr Couzens said.

According to a doctor’s report partially read out by Mr Couzens, the couple had no previous history of physical or mental illness.

“You exaggerated your achievements and talents. You think you should only associate with special and high-standing people. You show arrogant and haughty behaviour,” Mr Couzens said.

“This is the sort of ceremony one would expect for a super-millionaire pop star, not two people on the pension.

“Not only was this business denied $45,000, it lost out even further because it was not able to have other customers for four days.”

The couple were both sentenced to six months prison, three months to be served immediately and three to be 

suspended.

Mr Eakins, 68, wailed loudly in the court as the sentence was read 

out.

They plan to lodge an appeal against the sentence.