Funeral director admits swindling partners

A former funeral home director swindled his business partners out of tens of thousands of dollars to fuel his gambling addiction, Hamilton District Court was told.

Craig Everit Payne, 31, admitted four charges of forgery and 60 charges of using a document to claim $41,500 between 2000 and 2002.

The court was told Payne's actions led to the closure of Hamilton Funerals Ltd and put tremendous financial pressure on the other two directors Grant Nicol and Richard Vercoe.

Payne's offending was discovered in 2003 when a director noticed cheque and cheque-butt record discrepancies.

Defence lawyer David Allen said his client was remorseful and had accepted full responsibility for his offending. He was willing to pay the remaining reparation and any other consequential costs.

"He has caused huge financial loss to his own parents who are paying for his offending," Mr Allen said.

Judge James Weir noted Payne had since left the business and his marriage had broken up. However, he had attended Gamblers Anonymous for 15 months and was enrolled as a viticulture student.

He ordered Payne to pay $7971 in outstanding reparation and $12,473 in consequential losses.

He said there was nothing to be gained by sending Payne to prison and sentenced him to 300 hours' community work.

"I don't have to tell you if you ever lapse again with these series of convictions, if you appear before the court again for dishonesty, I don't see how they can stop short of a sentence of imprisonment," he said.

Outside court, Mr Vercoe and Mr Nicol said they were relieved Payne was sentenced and they could put the case behind them.

"You put trust in people that you work with and your never think it will happen to you," Mr Nicol said.

- nzpa