Repeat Featherston fraudster fined

A Featherston mother who has previously been sentenced for ripping off TradeMe customers has been handed another community-based sentence for stealing a workman's wallet and using his identification to gain a credit card, telephone line and broadband access.

Angela Bryce, 40, who previously pleaded guilty to four fraud charges and has previously been convicted twice of fraud, was sentenced by Judge Ian Mill in Masterton District Court earlier this week to three months' community detention and ordered to pay reparation of $3890 at $20 a week.

She wiped tears from her eyes as the judge passed sentence.

In September, last year Bryce had been sentenced to community detention after snaffling thousands of dollars from TradeMe users by selling a Ford Ka twice and clothing but failed to supply the goods. She had also forged her landlord's signature to receive her bond back on a house.

However, since being sentenced on those fraud charges police arrested Bryce for stealing the workman's wallet after he mistakenly left it at her home on July 16, 2012 while working there.

She used his driver's licence to successfully apply for a Diners Club credit card, using it 17 times to obtain cash and goods to the value of $2919.

Bryce also used the identification to get a fixed line and broadband services through Vodafone for three months, running up $962.80 in bills with the telecommunications company.

Her lawyer Frank Minehan said had the offending come to light earlier all the charges would have been dealt with together.

Bryce was a single mother with a 10-year-old and cared for her ailing father, Mr Minehan submitted as he asked the judge to sentence her to community detention coupled with counselling. "She presents as a very good parent," he said.

Judge Mill said Bryce had a history of dishonesty with "numerous" fraud-type convictions. He took into account the age of the offending pre-dating her previous convictions.

"This offending is more of the same," he said.