Judge: "Gambling was enormously destructive..."

New Plymouth gambling addict told to face up
LYN HUMPHREYS

A New Plymouth woman with a gambling habit and a history of bouncing cheques has been denied name suppression and told to get it into her head that the odds are loaded against gamblers.

In the New Plymouth District Court yesterday, Naima Hurliman, aged in her 40s and described as a government worker, pleaded guilty to 14 charges of fraud. She had written out cheques from March till late June worth nearly $1000 for which she had no money.

Hurliman's lawyer Susan Hughes, QC, asked for permanent name suppression for her client saying the offending was a cry for help. Hurliman was dealing with the problems in her life, attending counselling and entitled to one last chance at redemption, Ms Hughes said.

Prosecuting Sergeant Craig Jones argued against suppression. It was only two years since her last offending when she appeared on 16 fraud charges, he said.

Judge Lindsay Moore declined suppression, saying Hurliman had a gambling addiction and the offending happened when she had gambled away her possessions.

The community, and shop owners, were entitled to know that her cheques were not worth the paper they were written on.

"I can't possibly justify an order prohibiting publication of your name," he told Hurliman. "This is one of those cases where publication of your name is a key part of the administration of justice."

Gambling was enormously destructive, Judge Moore said.

"Obviously you are a woman of some capability so why can't you just get it into your head that every form of gambling is one in which the odds are loaded against the gambler. It is simply bizarre that someone of your capability keeps on living the belief that sooner or later you are going to strike it right."

Hurliman was sentenced to nine months' supervision and 120 hours' community work.