Sentencing delayed for woman accused of spending employer's money

The woman was due to be sentenced in the Hamilton District Court today. Photo / File

The sentencing of a Waikato woman who spent $312,000 of her former employer's money paying off her bills and her wedding has been adjourned.

Jennifer Ann Taylor, 43, former general manager at the New Zealand Jersey Cattle Breeders Association, was due to be sentenced in the Hamilton District Court today after earlier pleading guilty to charges of false accounting, seven charges of theft by a person in a special relationship and 14 charges of dishonestly using a document.

However, her counsel Lyn Walkington asked Judge Simon Menzies for the adjournment as a property her client was selling had gone conditional last night.

Mrs Walkington said settlement date had been pencilled in for August 14. Taylor had also received a second offer on the property.

Judge Menzies agreed, despite opposition from the crown and victims, and said the reparation would have an impact on Taylor's final sentencing.

She was remanded to reappear on August 19.

Taylor's misappropriation of funds went back to when the not-for-profit association first began keeping bank records seven years ago.

The Cambridge woman's offending included writing cheques from the association's account for her wedding catering and home renovations, and racking up thousands of dollars' on the organisation's credit card. Taylor also paid dental bills and school and sporting fees.

She was dismissed from her job last year. At the time, Taylor - who had worked there since 1993 - was earning $91,000 a year and had a company car.

The former administration manager, promoted to general manager in 2008, was a trusted employee who had virtual autonomy in running the business.