Elderly man targeted in raffle scam

An elderly man who was brazenly burgled by a raffle scam artist has resorted to arming himself with a large knife because he still fears for his safety, a court has heard.

On April 9, the 75-year-old opened the door of his Fitzroy, New Plymouth, home to Fraser Baunton Bull, who in the previous seven days had been making his way around the city hawking off tickets in his fake raffle scam.

During their 4pm chat, Bull noticed a wallet bulging with cash in the front shirt pocket of the victim. He went away, hatched a plan with his co-offender and returned about 30 minutes later.

Judge Chris Sygrove told the New Plymouth District Court that while Bull’s associate waited in his car, the defendant ran inside the victim’s home, nabbed the wallet and fled. The pair then drove away from the house with the cash, which totalled $300.

Judge Sygrove said the elderly victim had been left upset and scared by the crime, an act which had also knocked his confidence.

‘‘He has even taken to having a large knife beside him,’’ the judge said.

The offending spree began on April 1, when Bull and his associate travelled to the Warehouse Stationery store in New Plymouth’s The Valley shopping centre. While his associate waited in the car, Bull went into the shop and stole a $6.99 book of check tickets, which are commonly used to sell in raffles.

Over the course of one week, Bull travelled to various suburbs around New Plymouth, including Vogeltown, Merrilands, Westown and Fitzroy.

They targeted retired or elderly people living in town houses, flats and accommodation blocks, the police summary of facts said.

When the home owner answered the door, Bull would offer to sell them a raffle ticket at a cost of $2 and explain he was raising money for a sports group, which turned out to be bogus.

Yesterday, Bull appeared for sentencing on charges of obtains by deception, shoplifting, wilful damage and burglary. The 43-yearold previously pleaded guilty to the offending. Lawyer Kylie Pascoe said her client was ‘‘utterly ashamed’’ about the role he played in the crimes.

‘‘It’s rather low-down and rather nasty offending,’’ she said.

She said stealing money off the elderly man had ‘‘plagued’’ Bull for some time afterwards.

Pascoe said it had been a ‘‘significantly difficult’’ time for Bull, who was still coming to terms with the recent death of his nine-yearold daughter.

However, she said he was determined to stay out of trouble in order to be there for his other child. The judge said he hoped Bull chose to stay on the right path, rather than resort to further offending, which could result in jail time.

Bull was convicted and sentenced to six months’ supervision and ordered to complete 120 hours of community work. He will also have to pay $150 in reparation.

Another man had been charged in relation to the offending and is currently before the court.