Friday 25 November 2022 11:11 AM Guy Sebastian and Titus Day trial: Sebastian's victim impact statement on ... trends now

Friday 25 November 2022 11:11 AM Guy Sebastian and Titus Day trial: Sebastian's victim impact statement on ... trends now
Friday 25 November 2022 11:11 AM Guy Sebastian and Titus Day trial: Sebastian's victim impact statement on ... trends now

Friday 25 November 2022 11:11 AM Guy Sebastian and Titus Day trial: Sebastian's victim impact statement on ... trends now

Australian music icon Guy Sebastian has revealed how convicted embezzler Titus Day 'pushed him to the edge' and left him needing therapy.

Day was sentenced to at least two-and-a-half years in jail last week after he was found guilty of stealing more than $600,000 from Sebastian while working as his manager.

In a gut-wrenching victim impact statement, Sebastian revealed that he's 'not the same person' since realising his friend had stolen from him.

The court previously heard Sebastian 'took a leap of faith' by following Day from his former employer to his management company back in 2009. 

He said the pair were extremely close with Sebastian adding that he considered Day a 'brother'. 

Guy Sebastian (left) said the trial against his former manager, Titus Day, has been 'mental torture' for him and his wife, Jules (right)

Guy Sebastian (left) said the trial against his former manager, Titus Day, has been 'mental torture' for him and his wife, Jules (right)

Titus Day (above) will serve a minimum of two-and-a-half years in jail on 34 counts related to the embezzlement of more than $600,000 from his former client, Guy Sebastian

Titus Day (above) will serve a minimum of two-and-a-half years in jail on 34 counts related to the embezzlement of more than $600,000 from his former client, Guy Sebastian

In his statement, he says he's started visiting a therapist after Day broke his trust. 

He added that his former manager's attempts to 'cover his deceit' have hurt him more than the actual embezzlement.

'Uncovering the depth of the lies from a man I considered as a brother has forever changed my outlook in certain situations and my ability to trust in the innate goodness of people,' he wrote.

'Having someone so close to me and my family be so treacherous has literally pulled the rug out from under the belief system I had held up until that point in my life.

'The mental torture that we have had to endure to achieve justice, pushed me and my wife to the edge.' 

Sebastian also touched on how the stolen funds stopped him from furthering career.

He wrote: 'I was doing tour after tour, gig after gig and then being told I wasn't making money on these tours and having to juggle and manage cashflow. 

Sebastian (pictured with his wife, Jules) said he is 'not the same person' since learning of Day's 'deceit'

Sebastian (pictured with his wife, Jules) said he is 'not the same person' since learning of Day's 'deceit'

'To find out that Titus was taking this money - on top of the 20 per cent of my income that he had a legitimate claim to - and then using it for his own gain was a stab in the heart.'

Day was sentenced to a maximum four years in prison by Judge Tim Gartelmann at Sydney's Downing Centre District Court. 

Judge Gartelmann said the offences 'all were committed for financial gain' but it could not be established beyond reasonable doubt that 49-year-old Day 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 has been ordered to pay Sebastian $624,675 from 34 offences.

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 also been friends. 

The brutal split between Sebastian and Day also rocked the entertainment industry. 

Judge Gartelmann said character witnesses had universally described Day as generous, honest and trustworthy. All considered his offending out of character. 

Singer Tina Arena was among those who provided a reference for Day, describing him as 'someone she trusts' and a man with 'honesty and integrity'.

READ GUY SEBASTIAN'S LETTER TO THE JUDGE THAT WAS TENDERED IN COURT

Your Honour, it's difficult to sum up the impact that Titus Day's crimes have had. Obviously, I've personally been traumatised by this ordeal, but it has impacted so many others beyond myself.

From the time I discovered missing money almost five years ago, what he has put me and my family through has been horrific. 

The financial toll is one thing, but the mental torture that we have had to endure to achieve justice, pushed me and my wife to the edge.

I have said time and again that I perceived Titus to be a part of my family. I trusted him implicitly. 

Sebastian told the court he considered Day a 'brother' and 'family' before learning the crook manager had secretly been draining his funds

Sebastian told the court he considered Day a 'brother' and 'family' before learning the crook manager had secretly been draining his funds

I believed him to be of good character, an upstanding and charitable citizen, and I believed in him. Otherwise I never would have chosen to put my career in his hands when I took a leap of faith with him to his new business in 2009.

Over time and an extremely close relationship that was both business and personal, there were cracks that began to appear in this understanding. However, what was uncovered when our relationship really fell apart was more than shocking for me.

Every time I was seeking answers to missing monies I was met with threats and lies. I was told if I pursue this that my reputation would be ruined, my family would be ruined.

Fabricated stories were released to the media. He went to journalists with claims that I owe him hundreds of thousands of dollars, that I have slashed his tyres, threatened him, forced him to sell his home, called him a paedophile and that I verbally abused his staff members to the point that they needed to leave his employment. 

Each claim is 100 per cent without basis.

Seeking justice for this money stolen from me was always going to be public and difficult. What the jury and Your Honour has seen is vastly different to the version of events that Titus has told people in his circle. 

Sebastian (above) said both Day's actions and the trial had taken a massive toll on his music career, with the stolen funds limiting his growth opportunities

Sebastian (above) said both Day's actions and the trial had taken a massive toll on his music career, with the stolen funds limiting his growth opportunities

He has operated in the music and legal industry for a long time. There are many powerful people that are being told his version of events without seeing any of the evidence and this has been spread throughout the industry I work in and has caused me great harm because it has been perceived as though I am the one at fault and he is the victim. 

The impact on me professionally amongst people that are important to my career is huge.

There is a general perception from people who are not aware of the things that I have witnessed and uncovered. The jury and Your Honour has seen evidence ranging from emails, evidence from bookkeepers, bank statements, details of transfers and the description assigned to each one, the balance of his accounts when these crimes occurred etc. 

The jury were the ones who gave the guilty verdicts and they did so after scrutinising this evidence. Only those who are able to view

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