Four women convicted for personalised plate thefts

Four women who stole more than 190 personalised number plates in a three-month spree have been convicted in Wellington District Court.

Nikki Delaney, 19, of Ngaio, had earlier admitted four charges of theft. Gemma Hanrahan, 19, from the Wellington suburb of Northland, and Florence Hill, 19, of Karori, admitted three charges, while Reana Pacey, 18, of Kawerau, admitted two charges.

Their court appearances followed a series of thefts of personalised plates around Wellington, beginning in September 2003. Police raided a home in January this year and seized the missing plates.

The four accused initially pleaded not guilty but changed their pleas.

In June, lawyers Michael Bott for Delaney, Hanrahan and Hill, and Rennie Gould for Pacey, argued for discharges without conviction.

Judge John Walker rejected their arguments, though he said he would convict and discharge the four if they apologised to their victims, paid reparation and did community work.

Yesterday, Mr Bott said his clients had completed community work and had written letters of apology. Hanrahan and Delaney had paid their reparation but Hill had been unable to.

Judge Walker convicted and discharged the four, though he ordered Pacey to pay a further $462 in reparation at $20 a week. He also ordered Hill to pay $236.50 within two months.

- NZPA