Club ‘betrayed’ by ex-secretary’s actions

‘‘[New Plymouth’s Scenic City Rod and Custom Club] felt totally let down by a woman they believed was like them – honest and who had the best intentions of the club at heart.’’ Judge Garry Barkle

The former secretary of a Taranaki hot rod car club fleeced it of more than $8000 over four years, a court has heard.

Described by her fellow members as a betrayal, Mary Catherine Miles began to offend only months after she took on the administrative role at New Plymouth’s Scenic City Rod and Custom Club.

The police summary of facts said that part of her role as secretary involved having control of the club’s bank accounts.

On May 24, 2013, and without any permission from the club, Miles wrote out a cash cheque for $1500 but failed to account for the transaction by writing what the money was intended for in the accompanying butt.

The same day, she banked the cheque into her personal TSB bank account.

In 2014, Miles wrote three more cheques; for $350 in January, $2500 in April and $550 in September.

Again she failed to record the reason for the transactions and either deposited them into her bank account or cashed the cheques.

In May 2015, she cashed a $800 cheque and the following year, took $3077.57 via four transactions.

The 59-year-old previously pleaded guilty to charges of using a document and obtains by deception.

At Thursday’s sentencing hearing in the New Plymouth District Court, defence lawyer Patrick Mooney said the offending had been an obvious ‘‘fall from grace’’ for Miles.

It had also resulted in a loss in reputation.

He said taking the money had been motivated by financial need, rather than any gambling or other personal problem, and her convictions meant finding employment would likely be difficult in the future.

Miles had fronted up to the club members at a restorative justice meeting, which Mooney said had been ‘‘difficult’’ for her.

At the conference, she paid back $1500 and could pay the rest of the money back at $25 per week, he said.

Judge Garry Barkle said the victims had shown their ‘‘abject disappointment’’ about what had happened during the meeting, along with their ‘‘disgust and betrayal’’.

‘‘They felt totally let down by a woman they believed was like them – honest and who had the best intentions of the club at heart,’’ the judge said.

He said Miles had no previous convictions but the fact the offending took place over four years was an aggravating factor.

The defendant was sentenced to nine months’ supervision and ordered to complete 120 hours of community work as well as pay back the remaining reparation.