An ex-principal and former Australian of the Year finalist who fraudulently claimed millions of taxpayers' dollars for a top Indigenous school will not spend anymore time behind bars. In an 11th-hour plea last Monday, Jean Illingworth admitted defrauding the state and Commonwealth by inflating student numbers to get $3.4 million in extra funding for Djarragun College, near Cairns, between 2010 and 2011. On Friday, the 67-year-old appeared in the Cairns District Court where she was sentenced to three years' jail on one charge of obtaining property by deception, and two and half years' on one charge of fraud. Jean Illingworth, a former Queensland principal, has been released from serving any more time in jail for defrauding millions
@highlight
Jean Illingworth defrauded millions of dollars in funding from Federal government for Djarragun College near Cairns
@highlight
Illingworth has been released from jail immediately and will not have to pay back any of the taxpayers money
@highlight
Paid an almost $300,000 salary until this year despite being sacked in 2011
@highlight
Supporters have raised over $30,000 to defend her
@highlight
Was named the Queensland Senior Australian of the Year in 2009
The fundraising website 'Defend @placeholder' claims: 'Jean Illingworth worked tirelessly at Djarragun College for ten years, turning a small dysfunctional school into a flagship example of successful indigenous education.'