Woman sentenced after receiving 40,000 yen stolen by her son from Japanese student at Whanganui Collegiate School

A mother was sentenced for receiving the money that was stolen by her 15-year-old son.

A mother helped her son exchange 40,000 yen after he stole it from a Japanese student boarding at Whanganui Collegiate School.

The 15-year-old entered housing units at the school, stealing wallets containing cards, New Zealand dollars and foreign currency.

The teenager handed the stolen money to his mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, asking her to exchange it in November.

She appeared in Whanganui District Court on Tuesday where she pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property.

"She had suspicions about where the money had come from," police prosecutor Drew Morrison told the Whanganui District Court.

"Later that evening, the defendant's suspicions were confirmed when other family members informed her that the money was stolen by her son."

The mother went to ASB with the 40,000 yen and exchanged it for about $500 New Zealand dollars.

She spent the money, telling police she was desperate for it and later apologised for her actions.

Judge Philip Crayton said he was going to put the mother's behaviour to the test and sentenced her to come up if called upon for 12 months.

The sentence means she has been found guilty but will only be sentenced if she commits another crime within one year.

"This was a very poor judgement on your behalf. You owed that young boy better guidance and a better example," the judge said.

"You have appeared before, but a very long time ago. I hope this doesn't indicate a sign of things to come. You've got a lot to lose by the sounds of things."

Judge Crayton also ordered the mother to pay $500 reparation.
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