Govt-backed gambling industry slammed

A Reefton woman who defrauded two small clubs to feed her gambling habit was the victim of a government sanctioned industry that encouraged people to gamble, a judge has said.

Judge Christopher Somerville made the comments in Westport District Court as he sentenced Bernetta Hineroa Norton-Taylor, 41 to six months home detention.

She had previously admitted taking $13,820 in excess wages, $9156.15 in expenses and $1085.52 in groceries while employed at Reefton Workingmen's Club.

The charges date from December 2007 to May 2009.

Norton-Taylor also admitted five older charges relating to her time as treasurer of the Inangahua Basketball Association. Between May 2004 and May 2006, Norton-Taylor took $3500 from the association. The money was repaid.

Judge Somerville said Norton-Taylor's pokie habit was extreme and she commonly spent hundreds of dollars a day, sometimes losing over $1000 in a sitting.

"You are the victim of an industry that has government approval and the approval of some community groups, that is set up to encourage people to gamble in a way that finally induces the type of addiction you ve suffered."

The fraud was a serious breach of trust of clubs that trusted Norton-Taylor, and had nearly caused the Workingmen's Club to go under, the judge said.

Her counsel, Doug Taffs, said in many ways the discovery of the bigger fraud was a relief for his client.

Norton-Taylor was addicted to the emotional high from pokie machines and had fallen prey to an addiction which caused her to break the trust of the club and the community.

She had co-operated with police and pleaded guilty as early as possible to the Workingmen's Club fraud, while the basketball club was repaid, Mr Taffs said.

She would be making a further $5000 repayment to the Workingmen's Club early next month and then make weekly payments unless her family home was sold, which was a possibility.

Judge Somerville said that while on home detention, Norton-Taylor would undertake programmes to help her with her gambling addiction.

She was also ordered to pay the Workingmen's Club $15,601, with $5000 by October 7 and the rest in $50 instalments.

The club has already received $9000 insurance.

- NZPA