Former manager sentenced for defrauding childcare centre

File photo / NZ Herald

A woman raised a loan on her house to pay full reparation of $15,681.68 to a Picton childcare centre she defrauded, Wellington District Court heard today, when the cheque was handed up.

Deborah Gullery, 47, former manager of the centre, appeared for sentencing on eight charges of accessing a computer system for dishonest purposes.

Judge Peter Butler imposed five months' home detention and 240 hours' community work.

He queried differing claims of how much Gullery owed, saying: "It takes me by surprise."

Police had put the theft total at $24,846.44, while her employers wanted reimbursement of $42,535, including indirect costs for accountants to investigate the losses and legal fees for an employment hearing.

Gullery's lawyer John Tannahill objected to the legal and accounting costs being included in restitution.

If the employers wanted to take the matter further they could make a civil claim.

Judge Butler said he could only order reparation and was not going to make an order for the consequential expenses, to which the employer was entitled. He had revised the sum to the amount now paid by Gullery.

She had worked at the Picton creche since 1989 and pleaded guilty to defrauding the centre between July 2006 and January 2010.

After becoming manager and administrator, Gullery used the computer payroll system to get extra wages, holiday and sick leave entitlements for herself, as well as putting money into her own bank account, the judge said.

Mr Tannahill said the police file "sat in some detective's office in Blenheim."

The accused was finally spoken to by police in July this year and freely admitted her offending, he said.

Gallery was not charged until October, her lawyer said. Remorseful, she had suffered depression and stress waiting for prosecution.

Judge Butler said a lot of people in New Zealand were depressed and anxious.

Married for 34 years, with a supportive family, Gallery had none of the usual reasons - alcohol, drugs or gambling - to account for her offending, he said. She was unable to explain why and how it had occurred.