The Parramatta Local Court sentenced the former secretary of the National Union of Workers' NSW branch to four years in jail for blowing a big pile of union money on ridiculous personal expenses.

45-year old Derrick Belan was convicted in March of spending more than $650,000 of union cash on tattoos, botox treatments, boat cruises, cars and motorcycles.  He was charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage and participating in a criminal group with a book keeper and IT contractor.

Belan denied the charges, but Magistrate Elizabeth Ellis told the court:  "The paper trail led to Belan instigating, knowing about, authorising, and benefiting from a matrix of fraud he set up." 

"The workers that came under the NUW included factory workers, storemen - that is those at the lower end of the wage spectrum where membership came out of what I can only consider to be scant, spare funds," said Ms. Ellis.

Prosecutors will attempt to recover the $650,000 on behalf of union members.