Rescued sailor admits benefit fraud

A Lyttelton man who was rescued from his stricken yacht in an estimated $1 million operation last year has been convicted of eight counts of benefit fraud.

Bruce John Cox, 49, with his partner Heloise Kortekaas, battled for survival last October aboard their 9.7m yacht Janette Gay. It had lost its mast in atrocious weather and became stranded 780km north of the Chatham Islands.

Air force planes were sent out to the couple after a mayday call on October 8.

They were rescued on October 11 by the crew of P&O Nedlloyd ship Encounter, diverted from its course to help them, then transferred by rescue helicopter to the Chatham Islands, where a fixed-wing air ambulance plane brought them to Christchurch.

Immediately after the rescue, it emerged the couple was being investigated for benefit fraud, which they denied.

But the Press reported today that Cox appeared in Christchurch District Court this week and admitted seven counts of wilfully omitting to advise changes in circumstances and one of obtaining by deception.

He was sentenced to 250 hours of community work.

- NZPA