Name suppression lifted for blackmailing mistress and her lover

Judge Michael Crosbie jailed Mark Shayne Jory (pictured) for two years and three months. Photo / Staff photographer

The Dunedin adulterer and his mistress who defrauded insurance companies of more than $300,000 can now be revealed as Mark Shayne Jory and Sharleen Louise Lynch.

The 53-year-old former financial and insurance adviser hatched the plan to defraud seven insurance companies by applying for false insurance policies and collecting the commissions.

More than $300,000 was received in commission for 122 fake policy applications between 2010and 2013. Jory paid $187,036 to Lynch (35) to stop her from disclosing their affair and fraud to Jory's family and colleagues.

The pair were jailed in August and Lynch's counsel, Judith Ablett-Kerr QC, indicated she would be appealing the refusal of the district court judge to grant name suppression. Interim name suppression was granted to allow an appeal to be filed.

However, inquiry by the Otago Daily Times has confirmed that no name suppression appeal has been filed with the appellant court. The ODT can now reveal the pair.

Jory was convicted of seven counts of fraudulently using a document, relating to the
insurance fraud, and two counts of forgery for taking money from his wife's retirement fund and to re-mortgage the family home. Judge Michael Crosbie jailed him for two years and three months.

Lynch was jointly convicted on the seven counts of fraudulently using a document. She was also convicted of one count of blackmail and was jailed for four years.

Jory appeared before the parole board last month and the ODT understands he was released on Monday to a Belleknowes address.

His release conditions include provisions which exclude him from working in the financial sector, associating with Lynch and require him to reside in Dunedin, the ODT understands. The parole conditions will expire next year.

According to a summary of facts, the pair met online in 2005. Lynch travelled to Dunedin for a sexual relationship with Jory. She then threatened Jory she would reveal the affair to his wife and family.

"There were several hundred emails sent to Jory in respect of demands for money," the summary said.

"The defendant always put a date and time that the money was to be paid into her account stating that if payments were not made on time there would be consequences."

When the offending came to light in 2013, after insurance company audits, Lynch told police she used the money to pay bills and feed herself.

"She also had a gambling habit and was desperate for money."

Jory told police he had defrauded the insurance companies because he was being blackmailed.

"He said he did not spend any of the commission money he received on himself and had not made any financial gain."

Jory had not previously appeared before the court; Lynch had.

Lynch is due to first appear before the parole board next year in September.