Woman texted boss to apologise for theft

FRAUDSTER: Convicted of stealing money from her employer, Patricia Francis Butler has been sentenced to community work, supervision and ordered to pay back her former boss.

When delicatessen employee Patricia Francis Butler was paid by a club for catering, she failed to transfer the money into the business account belonging to her boss then, when confronted, sent a text message to her boss apologising for the fraud.

The 61-year-old Kuripuni woman, who previously pleaded guilty to theft by a person in a special relationship, was yesterday sentenced to 200 hours' community work, nine months supervision and ordered to pay back her former employer the $2116 she stole.

The summary of facts provided to the Times-Age by Judge Barbara Morris states that Butler was employed by a Masterton delicatessen between October 1, 2012 and February 5, 2013. Her duties included organising catering for events and parties.

In September 2012, Butler arranged for the business to cater at a party for Whaiora Social Club at a cost of $2116.

Later that month the club transferred money for the catering into Butler's bank account, but she didn't transfer the funds into her boss' account as arranged.

On February 5, 2013, Butler's boss discovered the money was missing.

At a meeting the same day, Butler admitted taking the money. She apologised and was sacked.

Later that day she sent her former boss a text message again apologising.

Butler's lawyer Frank Minehan said his client was willing to pay the stolen money back in instalments and was remorseful.

"She has been upfront from the beginning and admitted her fault," he said.

Judge Morris said Butler's offending had had a huge impact on the victim, who had since been forced to close her business.

Butler has previous convictions but no theft convictions "for quite some time," Judge Morris said.