Budget adviser faces more charges

Sentencing for a 50-year-old Masterton budget adviser, who raided the funds of vulnerable clients, has been adjourned because police have charged her with four new counts of theft.

The woman, who has interim name suppression, previously pleaded guilty to eight charges of theft by a person in a special relationship involving $14,300 and was due to plead to another two counts.

The public gallery of Masterton District Court was packed with women who had previously worked with the woman when she appeared before Judge Chris Tuohy on Monday and the court heard she was facing four new charges, making it a total of 14 charges.

Advocates from other agencies were also sitting in the public gallery during her appearance.

Lawyer Jock Blathwayt said she was not ready to plead to the fresh charges as he had not yet seen the police disclosure.

Judge Tuohy granted the woman interim name suppression to be argued at her next appearance when she is due to plead to the new charges and for a sentencing date to be set.

Clients of the service, which the Times-Age has decided not to name as it could identify the woman, were putting money into a nominated account for paying their bills.

But instead of paying their bills, she withdrew the money for herself.

She was remanded on bail to reappear on February 16.