Benefit fraudster swindled more that $200,000

A long-time benefit fraudster who swindled more than $200,000 from the taxpayer has been jailed for three years.

Christchurch District Court Judge Stephen Erber said yesterday the 15-year fraud by Errol John Norris, which garnered $200,609, probably put it in the top 10 offences of its type in New Zealand.

Norris, 65, admitted seven counts of dishonestly using documents.

The fraud started in 1988 and ended last year, but Norris was never entitled to a benefit, the judge said. "You failed to advise social welfare when you applied that you were married and were not in fact entitled to a benefit."

Norris had claimed the money was used to support his ageing mother and alleviate financial stress in his household.

"This excuse of not enough money is understandable but does not mitigate," the judge said.

The attitude of the courts had been made clear, that a significant jail term was appropriate for serious benefit fraud and had to be imposed, the judge said.

A Ministry of Social Development summary of facts said Norris agreed to advise of any change of circumstances, including marriage, but had not done so.

When annual benefit review forms were introduced in 1998, Norris repeatedly stated he was not married. In fact, Norris received benefits until his marriage failed last year, his wife working throughout, the summary said.

Norris received a range of benefit types, the single biggest overpayment being $127,155 for invalid benefits.

Lawyer Al Manco said there was no simple explanation for Norris' actions, but he felt close to his mother, the money was used for her benefit and a small amount went to his household budget.

The stress of the offending had affected Norris to the point it was detrimental to his health, and he would ask for jail to be kept to the minimum, Mr Manco said.

Ministry of Social Development prosecutor Grant Fletcher said the excuse of supplanting the family income had almost become characteristic of this type of offending.

The money was often used to help family members, but mitigation for that was not as great as it appeared at first glance, Mr Fletcher said.

The judge said Norris had no relevant previous convictions and a probation report was favourable, and he had serious medical problems, including cancer and heart trouble.

He would take those factors into account and reduce the sentence from a starting point of four and a half years to three years, the judge said.

- nzpa