Man jailed for $280,000 fraud

Former Credit Union North lending manager Anthony Wilbraham has been jailed for three years. Photo / Kenny Rodger

A former lending manager who ripped off Credit Union North for more than $280,000 has been jailed for three years.

Anthony Wilbraham, 44, of Bellevue, appeared for sentence in Tauranga District Court yesterday after pleading guilty to 44 charges - 30 of fraudulently using a document to gain pecuniary advantage and 14 of accessing a computer for dishonest purposes.

Judge Patrick Treston said the offending had caused "profound devastation" to a number of people, The Bay of Plenty Times reported.

Between February 2001 and October 2008 Wilbraham, who worked at the Mount Maunganui branch, created loan accounts under the names of existing customers withdrew money on a number of occasions and used it himself. In total, he took $280,592.37 and spent it on alcohol, bills, gambling and living expenses.

Credit Union North chief executive Russell Syme described the result of Wilbraham's offending as like being "robbed by a brother".

"Staff had trust and belief in Tony and felt totally betrayed," Mr Syme said in an impact statement read in court.

Wilbraham's lawyer Viv Winiata said his client was "very remorseful" for what he had done and wanted to repay the money as soon as he was back in employment.

But Judge Treston pointed out that Wilbraham, who was now unemployed, had recently been adjudicated bankrupt and that the Crown was not seeking repayment.

He said any reparation could perhaps be a personal choice and did not order it as part of the sentence.

- NZPA