Fraudster sent to jail for theft of $180,000

Fraudster sent to jail for theft of $180,000
JIMMY ELLINGHAM

A Palmerston North woman who stole money from her employers – and at the same time claimed the domestic purposes benefit to fund a gambling addiction – has been jailed for two years and two months.

During five years Debra Kay Price, 49, fraudulently obtained more than $180,000.

At Palmerston North District court yesterday, she was sentenced on three obtaining by deception charges and one of wilful omission.

Between March 23, 2009, and January 24, 2010, she received $16,517 taxpayer money she was not entitled to in domestic purposes benefit, accommodation supplement and disability allowance payments from Work and Income.

At the same time, she was an office administrator for Manawatu's failed Signature Homes franchise.

While fraudulently claiming benefit money, she took $31,397.04 from the building company.

Her offending started in 2005, when she worked in the office at related companies, Mag and Tyre Direct and Fore Cars Manawatu.

Until she resigned in December 2008, she stole $134,327.12 from the companies, making more than 100 payments to her bank account.

Price has not paid the benefit money back, but has paid her former employers about $61,000, which included a final settlement of about $28,000 with Signature Homes, Judge Nevin Dawson said.

"I need to take into account the victims who have suffered as a result of what you have done," the judge said.

"You were placed in a position of responsibility that you abused.

"You and other people in similar positions to you need to know that there are consequences that are serious for this type of offending, especially for this amount."

Defence lawyer Mark Alderdice, who represented Price on the three obtaining by deception charges, said the woman now had no job or financial prospects, but had taken responsibility for her offending.

Mike Ryan, who represented her on the wilful deception charge, said Price's gambling had brought about her downfall.

Price was supposed to be sentenced on the obtaining by deception charges in March, but Judge Dawson delayed proceedings to allow reparation to be sorted.

In the meantime, the benefit fraud charge was added.

In March Mag and Tyre and Fore Cars director Craig Laird, of New Plymouth, read a victim impact statement where he said Price's offending had forced him to lay off staff and borrow to keep the business afloat.

Mr Laird had said he and his partner were expecting their first child in July, which should be the happiest time of their lives.

Instead, the couple were unable to afford their own home.

Ad Feedback Speaking to the Manawatu Standard, Mr Laird welcomed the prison sentenced imposed on Price.

He called for a fund to be set up to compensate victims in his position, where problem gamblers had stolen from them to fund their addiction.

Price's offending had affected Mr Laird's ability to trust other staff.

"It certainly makes you wonder if it's all worthwhile, being an employer," he said.

After a court appearance in March, Price had said her gambling addiction had forced her to sell her house.

- Manawatu Standard