de stefano was bailed, and on 13 march 2003, later appeared in the supreme court of victoria for sentencing where he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with a minimum period of seven years. some of those he stole from included tomislav papic, a quadriplegic who was awarded a record a$6 million settlement in a successful lawsuit against the geelong hospital. justice kellam referred to the thefts of papic's compensation payout as "heartless", saying at de stefano's sentencing hearing,