Woman's $900 luncheon shoplifting scam

File photo / NZ Herald

A Rotorua mother who stole $900 of groceries from a supermarket by using the barcode from ham and chicken luncheon has been sentenced to home detention.

Rotorua District Court was told that Betty Roha Te Runa, 42, had 46 previous convictions for shoplifting.

She pleaded guilty this week to 18 charges of fraudulently using a ham and chicken luncheon barcode to gain a pecuniary advantage.

She was sentenced to two months' home detention and 250 hours' community work, with Jude James Weir giving her a final warning that prison would be next.

According to the police summary of facts, Te Runa went to a local New World supermarket 13 times between September 10 and October 30 last year.

On October 30, she attracted the attention of security staff. They approached her but she walked out of the supermarket, leaving her goods behind.

Te Runa's lawyer Annette Sykes said all the items Te Runa had taken from New World were to support a child.

Ms Sykes said Te Runa's mental position was not strong and pleaded with the judge to be merciful as a jail term would "push her over the edge".

Judge Weir said Te Runa had 76 previous convictions for dishonesty, including 46 for shoplifting.