A 26-year-old Blenheim woman who stole almost $45,000 from her employer was "cold, calculating and deliberate", a district court judge said yesterday.
Letisha Jayne Miller was sentenced to the maximum six months' community detention, 200 hours' community work and ordered to pay $57,851.93 reparation when she appeared at the Blenheim District Court on 20 charges of dishonestly using a computer for financial gain.
Evidence presented to the court showed Miller used a computer system at her former employer King Contracting 20 times during eight months last year to create fake invoices.
She began on April 14, creating a false invoice for more than $2000, which was later deposited into her bank account. This happened another 19 times with similar amounts of money.
Judge Geoffrey Ellis said her employer was "absolutely gutted" someone could take money from the company and still return to work each day and even ask the owners for wedding advice.
The owners had thought about selling their business or their house to recoup the money, he said.
No mention was made about the motive behind Miller's theft, but Judge Ellis said she later left work to go on her honeymoon, which he speculated could have been at least partly financed by her offending.
Defence counsel Rob Harrison gave the judge references from friends and family that said Miller was honest and generous and her offending was out of character.
However, Judge Ellis said her actions were not spur-of-the-moment.
"[It] reeks of a cold, calculated, mean-spirited breach of trust."
Judge Tim Broadmore had warned last month that a jail sentence would be an option, with the length of sentence depending on how much Miller would be able to repay.
Mr Harrison said yesterday Miller could pay $40,000 by the end of the week. The remaining $17,851.93 would be paid off over two years.
The final reparation payment ordered yesterday included the amount taken and accountants' fees and costs relating to auditing the company.
Judge Ellis sentenced Miller to community detention "not in a sense of misguided sympathy" for her, but rather for the sake of the victims, he said.
The sentence would allow Miller to continue working to repay the remaining money, he said.
Community detention involves a person living at their home with an electronic bracelet and with a curfew, usually between 7pm and 7am daily.
The person is free during the day to complete community service or any other court sentence such as counselling.
Miller is required to to fully disclose her financial situation to the court every three monthsThe Marlborough Express
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