A West Coaster accused of impersonating a struggling out-of-work Pike River coal miner told a judge today that he is a guilty man.
Edwin Taylor, 46, is facing fraud and theft charges by claiming he was made redundant from the West Coast mine after the explosions last year which killed 29 workers.
He allegedly used a heartfelt story of losing his comrades in the disaster to gain the trust of a victim before stealing from her.
One woman from Oamaru claims she took Mr Taylor, originally from Reefton, into her North Otago home last Christmas after hearing his sob story.
But she says the alleged conman soon abused her trust and stole her $4000 station wagon and between $500 and $1000 in cash. She also says she loaned him $130.
