Man stole $21k on cousin's credit card

Stephen Melvin Shailer, 28, has pleaded guilty to 14 charges of obtaining a pecuniary advantage.

Struggling financially, Stephen Melvin Shailer stole a cousin's business credit card using it 93 times, gaining goods to the value of more than $21,000.

Before Judge Barbara Morris in Masterton District Court on Thursday, the 28-year-old pleaded guilty to 14 charges of obtaining pecuniary advantage.

The charges related to a period between June 4, 2013 and September 12, 2013 when he used the credit card details for Shailer Thoroughbreds Ltd, a Matamata-based horse training business belonging to his cousin.

Shailer dined on pizza, bought flowers for his partner, bought parts for his car, gained accommodation and paid other bills including telephone bills and bought products through Trade Me using the credit card. He also obtained cash through a TAB account.

When spoken to by police Shailer stated he was struggling financially so wrote down the victim's credit card details using it to purchase goods and pay off debts.

The New Zealand Racing Board is seeking $15,808.14 with a further $5241.14 being sought by other victims, including Direct 2 Florist, Trade Me, Dominos Pioneer Highway, Pizza Hutt, Hyper 2 Ltd and Super Cheap Auto.

The offending was noticed only when an audit was carried out after irregularities were noticed by a partner in the business, the police summary provided to the Times-Age by Judge Morris states.

Shailer was bailed to a Foxton address with a 24-hour curfew for a pre-sentence report. He can only leave the property in the custody of his parents. He is due back in court on October 2 for sentencing.