Community service for over $100k fraud

A Whangamata man who partially owns nearly $1 million worth of property has been sentenced to 280 hours' community work for fraudulently obtaining nearly $110,000 worth of benefit payments.

Graham Herbert Taylor, 56, appeared for sentence in Thames District Court today after earlier pleading guilty to two charges of using a document to obtain a pecuniary advantage.

Taylor claimed the invalid benefit, accommodation supplement and disability allowance to help him look after his mother, a stroke and heart attack victim, and received $109,059.93 in benefits from 2000.

On signing the applications, Taylor agreed to advise the ministry of any changes to his circumstances, but failed to report income for vehicle trading, rent, bank interest and work.

He was discovered to own three properties, collectively worth $978,500, for which he received rent, and also failed to declare cash assets of $115,752.01 in 2004 and $148,326.65 in 2005.

Taylor has filed a civil suit against Prime Minister John Key, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett and ministry chief executive Peter Hughes for the stress caused to him and his mother.

- NZPA