Fraud spree earns jail

Press, 27 July 1988, Page 26

Fraud spree earns jail

An unemployed man who fraudulently obtained goods and services to a total value of $28,823, with no prospect of reparation, was imprisoned for two years by Judge Noble in the District Court yesterday.

Mark Nicholas Tate, aged 27, (Mr A. N. D. Garrett), had a long list of previous convictions and a well-established pattern of criminal behaviour over the last 10 years, said the Judge. These spates of criminal activity, similar to the one for which he was now for sentence, were a consequence of Tate’s inability to cope with the vicissitudes of life, and his addiction to alcohol, said the Judge. It was to the defendant’s credit that because of his co-operation with the police, and his immediate pleas of guilty, a lot of time and trouble, and the taxpayers’ money, had been saved, he said. Tate was for sentence after his admission of guilt on 127 charges of fraud, three of incurring debt by fraud, one of unlawful taking, one of theft, one of escaping from custody at Wellington Airport, breaches of periodic detention and bail, and owing $l6OO in

unpaid fines. Mr Garrett said his client had no intention of “ripping off” needy people. Tate’s family, including his three children, had been suffering after problems connected with the repossession of equipment and vehicles used by the defendant in a contract logging business because of “horrendous” hire purchase arrangements. With no money for food and power Tate embarked on offending to resolve the crisis. Mr Garrett said that because of his previous fraud offences the police had notified banks about Tate. In opening accounts at the 12 bank branches Tate in many cases used his own name, and in others used a false name but gave the Paparua Prison settlement as his address, said Mr Garrett. Yet it appeared, he said, that no-one vetted his client. Mr Garrett said that not one of the trading banks would lose financially as a result of his client’s fraudulent dealings. ROBBERY When a motorist involved in a minor road accident with a pedestrian tried to get out of his

vehicle to assist he was punched in the face by the pedestrian who then demanded money to pay for a taxi to the hospital, said Sergeant John Dwyer. The pedestrian then snatched the man’s wallet, as he was about to give him some money, and took $6O.

The pedestrian, Bryan Paul McSeveny, aged 23 (Mr E. Bedo), admitted robbing the motorist of $6O cash on July 18. It was a disgraceful incident and a totally inappropriate reaction, said the Judge. McSeveny was convicted and sentenced to periodic detention for four months. He was also fined $4OO and the Judge ordered that the whole of the amount be paid to the complainant. Mr Bedo said there was no premeditation to the offence. McSeveny deeply regretted his behaviour and, through the court, apologised to the complainant. 10 MONTHS JAIL David Shane Lewis, described by the Judge as “nothing but a confidence man,” was sent to prison for 10 months. Lewis, aged 36, unemployed (Mr D. C. Ruth),

was earlier convicted on five charges of obtaining credit by fraud, one charge of false pretence, one of theft as a servant, and three of conversion. The Judge said that for reasons of his own Lewis had deliberately embarked on his latest series of offences, in both the North and South Islands, leaving behind a trail of angry and frustrated victims. The offending included staying in motels without paying, taking vehicles for test drives with no intention of returning them, hiring a rental vehicle for 24 hours and retaining it for two weeks, and stealing $B2O in takings from his employer, a piecart owner. Judge Noble said he was satisfied that anything other than a custodial sentence would be inappropriate in the public interest.

Mr Ruth said his client went on such offending sprees when under stress and after drinking. Lewis now had a job and was willing to make reparation amounting to $3300. The defendant had also said that he had written apologising to those against whom he had offended, said Mr Ruth.