Monday 21 November 2022 11:29 PM Guy Sebastian 'not the same person' after manager took money according to ... trends now
Guy Sebastian says he is 'not the same person' since his long-time manager embezzled more than $600,000 from his accounts in a betrayal the singer describes as 'evil'.
Titus Day was jailed for a minimum two-and-a-half years in Sydney's Downing Centre District Court last Thursday for withholding parts of Sebastian's huge earnings from his music.
Day was originally charged with 50 counts of embezzling at least $886,175 in royalties, performance fees and an ambassadorship from Sebastian between 2013 and 2020.
A jury found the father-of-three guilty in June of 34 offences in relation to money totalling $624,675 after deliberating for almost a week.
Guy Sebastian says he is 'not the same person' since his long-time manager embezzled more than $600,000 in a betrayal the singer describes as 'evil'. Sebastian is pictured with wife Jules
Titus Day managed Guy Sebastian for about a decade and the men were once close friends. Day is pictured outside court before his sentencing on Thursday
Sebastian, who was once one of Day's closest friends, wrote an 1,800-word victim impact statement that was tendered after the jury returned its guilty verdicts.
'I am not the same person I was,' the 41-year-old wrote.
'I wish I could still view the world the same way but every day I fight through negative thoughts and I have to remind myself that not everyone is capable of doing this.
'I have struggled through anger and resentment and I'm not even close to being healed yet.
Sebastian said Day's 'sustained deception' led him to the 'darkest points' in his life and career.
'Uncovering the depth of the lies from a man I considered a brother has forever changed my outlook in certain situations and my ability to trust in the innate goodness of people,' he wrote.
The court heard Sebastian found 'anomalies' in financial records after he split from Day suggesting he was owed payments by his former manager. Sebastian is pictured with Day
'Having someone so close to me and my family be so treacherous has literally pulled the rug out from under the belief systems I had held up until that point in my life.
'For him to be a close family friend and socially interact with my family for years knowing what he was doing can only be described as evil.
'I can't imagine doing that to someone I call a friend, much less a brother.'
Judge Tim Gartelmann said Day's offences 'all were committed for financial gain' but it could not be established beyond reasonable doubt the 49-year-old was motivated by greed.
'There is no evidence of remorse as the offender maintains his innocence - nor is there any evidence regarding prospects of rehabilitation,' Judge Gartelmann said.
He found Day re-offending was nonetheless unlikely.
Guy Sebastian's former manager Titus Day was found guilty in June of embezzling $624,675 from the singer. Sebastian is pictured with wife Jules
The offending was a breach of trust but there had been no significant organisation or planning, Judge Gartelmann found. It was not known how Day spent the money.
Publicity surrounding the case and the destruction of Day's reputation had left him 'devastated' and it was unlikely he could ever recover professionally.
The court case pitted two men who were once extremely close against each other and dragged in their wives, who had
