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A West Coast couple who cheated a nun out of $200 have been sentenced to community work.
Greymouth District Court was told that Vincent Addis stole three cheques from the nun's chequebook while visiting his wife Leanne who was staying with the nun.
He also took a form bearing the nun's signature and used it as a guide to forge her name on a cheque he had written for $200.
Vincent Addis, 45, took the cheque to a service station, where he told an attendant the nun had offered the money to help his wife move to a new address.
He suggested the attendant phone the cheque's owner to confirm its authenticity.
Leanne Addis, 39, answered the call, pretended to be the nun, and authorised payment.
Their lawyer Doug Taffs said the defendants knew they had committed a "mean-spirited" theft and had already felt the "appropriate criticism of the community".
The couploe, of Cobden, Greymouth, were each sentenced to 300 hours' community work after admitting conspiracy to defraud.
Mr Taffs handed over $200 cash as reparation for the money they had illegally obtained.
Judge Stephen Erber said it was "reprehensible behaviour". Part of each community work order was in lieu of outstanding fines -- $2500 for Leanne Addis and $2280 for her husband.
- NZPA
