No payback for Wairarapa victim

The victim of a fraud crime won't see a single cent of the thousands of dollars swindled out of her by a Masterton man.

In Masterton District Court on Monday, Judge Peter Butler sentenced 32-year-old Shane Harwood to seven months' home detention, six months' supervision and to undertake a drug and alcohol programme, for the crime of obtaining $34,588 by deception.

Judge Peter Butler said Harwood had no job, assets or prospect of paying her back within a reasonable timeframe so he couldn't order reparation.

"This is hard news for her as she needs the funds for her impending retirement."

The victim read an emotional statement in court, saying she felt immense pressure to lend Harwood money, even borrowing money to give to him and buying a house for him to live in.

They had become friends in 2011 and over the next 18 months, Harwood told her "layer upon layer of lies" including that he needed money to fight a court custody battle for his children and that his grandmother had died and he would pay her back from a $90,000 inheritance.

He also wrote fake letters under the alias of "Bruce", a builder asking for money to support an apprenticeship for Harwood.

"On reflection, my good intentions of helping Shane were totally abused," said the victim. "I lent those funds to Shane that they be repaid... if it does take 30 years I expect to be paid."

He made hundreds of promises to repay her but never did.

She said she became extremely stressed and had trouble sleeping, chest pains and difficulty concentrating at work.

Her daughter told her she looked "so much older, as if your soul has died."

The woman warned people not believe Harwood and said he was ruthless and calculated.

When questioned by police last year, he admitted lying to the victim to get the money and said he spent it on drugs.

Defence lawyer Peter Stevens said Harwood had done it "obviously to support a drug habit".

Judge Butler said a starting point for the crime was 18 months in prison but reduced the sentence because of his guilty plea.

The woman's name is supressed.