Serial fraudster Matthew Young jailed for string of offences

Matthew John Young, 45, was convicted on a string of offences committed in Hamilton and Auckland between 2011 and 2013. Photo / File

A serial fraudster has been jailed for four years and 11 months following his sentence at the Hamilton District Court on Friday.

Matthew John Young, 45, was convicted on a string of offences committed in Hamilton and Auckland between 2011 and 2013.

His victims included members of the public, Genesis, Bunnings and Telecom (Spark) with his offending costing the affected parties more than $269,000.

He pleaded guilty to 13 charges in April including using a document, obtained by deception, and knowingly being a party to a company with intent to defraud creditors.

Crown prosecutor Louella Dunn told the court in her submissions that Young was both calculating and lacking remorse for what he had done.

"His offending was premeditated, persistent and sophisticated, portraying himself to the victims as a man of means but had no intention of paying them back."

"He has no real acknowledgement of his wrong doing and causing loss to others," Ms Dunn said.

One of the victims, who has name suppression, spoke of the pressure she was placed under in dealing with the offender.

"He slandered, defamed and attempted to intimidate me through launching six civil cases and breached his bail conditions by sending a private investigator to my house," she said.

Defence lawyer Kahungunu Barron-Afeake argued his client would suffer if he were imprisoned due to his diabetes and having suffered heart attacks in the past.

"His doctor has told me over the phone the stress of this case could cause his death," he said.

However Judge Noel Cocurullo was not influenced by the defendant's health concerns in passing sentence on Young.

"Your criminal conduct had a serious and profound affect on these people.

"You abused their trust and caused them significant grief and financial hardship, causing ruin to some of them, which warrants deterrence and denunciation," Cocurullo said.