Fraudster lied to get security job

File photo / NZ Herald

A man got a job with a security firm after he told them he was an army officer and had Ministry of Justice approval to be employed in a security role, a court has been told.

It turned out it was a lie and he had 84 previous convictions for fraud.

Richard Anthony Edwards, aka Greening, 52, has been sentenced to 23 months' jail after pleading guilty to two charges of fraud, one charge of theft of a motor vehicle and two charges of breaching prison-release conditions.

Rotorua District Court was told Edwards had 105 previous convictions, including 84 for fraud.

According to a police summary of facts, Edwards went to Rotorua security firm Independent Security Consultants on January 15 and gave an employee an employment application. On the application Edwards said he had an extensive military background and was a person of good character.

He put in the application and also told management he held the rank of a lieutenant in the army and had a Ministry of Justice certificate of approval allowing him to be employed as a security guard.

On the basis of the information provided, the company employed Edwards, believing he was of good character and had Ministry of Justice clearance.

The security consultant gave Edwards a $400 cash advance on his first pay. Edwards was also provided with a uniform, a vehicle and keys, door access codes and alarm codes to a large number of premises guarded by the security firm.

When police spoke to him he admitted he had lied to get the job as he needed it to support his family.

Between April 30 and May 23 last year Edwards used 10 cheques worth $6244.31 at four different Countdown stores in Auckland to pay for groceries despite knowing he did not have money in his account.

In a separate incident in October last year, Edwards offered to fix a car for an acquaintance.

The owner gave him $350 for repairs and Edwards later sold the vehicle for $400.

In his sentencing notes, Judge James Weir said Edwards had told a probation officer he could pay reparation as he was now working for Nutech Security in Tauranga looking after containers that had come off the grounded ship Rena but the probation officer was unable to confirm his employment.

"I just do not believe you for a minute ... You have been unceasing in your fraudulent activities and you are a danger to society. You take people in, you rip them off and you walk away without remorse," Judge Weir said.

Edwards appealed the length of the sentence in the High Court at Rotorua last week but the appeal was dismissed by Justice Paul Heath after he found the sentence was not manifestly excessive.