Stealing fundraising money from his rugby mates before disappearing to Australia a decade ago has caught up with a Blenheim man, who has been sentenced to community work.
Bruce Allan Wealleans, 49, pleaded guilty to theft when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court this week.
Police prosector Sergeant Graham Single said Wealleans and 19 other people formed the golden oldies rugby club Hargens Heroes in Christchurch in August 1998. Wealleans was club treasurer. The club fundraised by holding two meat raffles every Thursday night at Hargens Hotel in New Brighton, where Wealleans was a bar manager, Mr Single said.
Each draw had 45 tickets costing $2 each and Wealleans had to pay a butcher for the meat, then bank the rest of the money.
After 36 weeks, Wealleans paid for the meat and was left with $2930 for the club, but when asked to account for the money in May 1999, he claimed it was being held by his lawyer, Mr Single said.
He moved to Australia without returning the money to the club.
Judge Bruce Davidson convicted Wealleans, but said it was unclear to whom reparation should be paid, so could sentence him only to 140 hours community work.
"You do not need me to tell you that you ripped your mates off and stole their money. If you do see fit to pay them back the money, that's up to you."
The Marlborough Express
No comments:
Post a Comment