Detention for frauds

Press, 11 February 1983, Page 5

Detention for frauds

A man who defrauded the New Zealand Coffee and Spice Company _of $2858, while employed as its factory manager, was sentenced to nine months periodic detention when he appeared for sentence in the District Court yesterday. The defendant, Grahame Edward Louden, aged 41, had been found guilty by a jury at his trial last month of five charges of fraud by using cheques amounting to $2858, drawn on the company’s account, to obtain for himself a precuniary advantage. The jury had found him not guilty of two other similar charges involving $709. Judge Pain, imposing sentence yesterday, said the defendant had committed deliberate frauds against his employer, by obtaining and using a cheque for lentils which were never delivered to the company, and receiving payment for four bogus purchases of walnuts.

He had carried out a devious plan of fraud involving a

serious breach of his employer's trust. The Judge, in addition to imposing the term of periodic detention, directed payment of restitution of $2858 to his former employer. His counsel (Dr W. G. G. A. Young) successfully sought a sentence other than imprisonment, and asked that periodic detention or community work be imposed. He said that the defendant had held positions of responsibility for a number of years, but these convictions and the resultant publicity made it highly unlikely that he would do so again in the foreseeable future.

Dr Young said the defendant was unlikely to offend again. The Judge said that, apart from these offences, the defendant had achieved well and had some sense of responsibility. His continued liberty would enable him to earn money and repay the money he took from his employer.