Man jailed for 52 weeks for series of frauds

Press, 15 May 1985, Page 4

Man jailed for 52 weeks for series of frauds

PA Hamilton A former secretarytreasurer of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Party, who committed a series of frauds after leaving his post, has been jailed for 52 weeks. Leslie Ronald Orchard,

aged 25, a self-employed salesman, of Wellington appeared for sentence in the District Court at Hamilton on Monday after being convicted by a jury on 11 charges of using a document for gain, two of forgery, and one each of car conversion and making a misleading declaration to the Reserve Bank.

The term is one day less than a year, giving Judge Green the power to impose conditions of probation to follow.

The Judge said it was not the first time Orchard had been involved in the fraudulent use of cheques. In November, 1982, he had a “similar outbreak,” and was convicted on two charges of credit by fraud in December, 1983, he said.

“This is the third occasion you have appeared on numerous charges of this nature,” the Judge told Orchard.

He sentenced Orchard to 52 weeks jail to be followed by 12 months probation, with special conditions relating to the control of his finances.

Defence counsel, Mr Richard Boast, said Orchard had been working very long hours for the New Zealand

Party before the offences were committed. When the position as secretary-treasurer was over, Orchard had felt disillusioned, Mr Boast said. “He was tired and distressed after the sophistication and glamour of being in the position he was in,” he said. The charges arose from incidents in July and August last year. Earlier, the Court was told that Orchard had used cheques from his own chequebook to obtain rental cars, accommodation, food, petrol, and an airline ticket when there were insufficent funds in his account.