Jail after ‘lifestyle of extravagance
Tears flowed in Rotorua District Court as mother-of-three Stephanie Elmiger was sentenced to two years eight months’ imprisonment for 225 charges of theft from a Taupo¯ car dealership.
Her victims, the BlakeneyWilliams family, cried at the realisation justice had been served on a woman who had stolen so much from them.
The money she took, $192,000, will be repaid after assets from Elmiger’s property sale were frozen but the emotional toll has been harder to regain.
‘‘It does not even come close to what she has cost our family,’’ Olivia Blakeney-Williams said. ‘‘She made herself out to be the victim and spread rumours about us. We have been devastated by her actions and tormenting by supporters. My dad, at 73, was even attacked.’’
The man charged with the assault was present outside the Rotorua District Court the day of the sentencing to support Elmiger. The family say they still look over their shoulders when outside.
Leading up to the sentencing, the Blakeney-Williams had been tormented with their lawn defaced and plants mysteriously becoming poisoned.
‘‘We felt like prisoners in our own town and were being judged by people who never met us,’’ Olivia said.
Elmiger first met the Blakeney-Williams when she started work at Taupo¯ ’s Central Motor Group in November 2013.
Richard Blakeney-Williams took a shine to his new hire and she was soon promoted to general manager. He had hoped to retire but this decision would come back to haunt him as his business started crumbling around him, unable to carry Elmiger’s increasingly brazen thefts, which went undetected for almost three years.
Elmiger would use fake account information and she transferred money, up to $11,600 at a time, into her personal bank account or other accounts she controlled.
She also used the company credit card to tick up food, clothes, flights, cosmetic treatments and even a colon cleanse.
All the while the BlakeneyWilliams were struggling to pay their staff as their funds dried up.
Judge Tony Snell said presentencing reports showed Elmiger had little remorse for her actions.
He surmised the money stolen was solely for personal gain to afford a ‘‘lifestyle of extravagance’’ fuelled by a ‘‘sense of entitlement’’.
‘‘You became accustomed to shopping, beauty and having access to money at any time,’’ he said. ‘‘This fraud was committed for personal gain. The majority of this money was spent on your home improvements, personal items, entertainment and other matters for you.’’
The gravity of the offending weighed on her supporters in court with tears flowing from her supporters as she was sent away to prison.
It was a far cry from the jovial attitude brought into the courtroom as they joked and laughed. They had hoped a communitybased sentence might be imposed, which Elmiger’s lawyer, Jonathan Temm, argued for.
After considering the severity of the offending and the impact it had on the Blakeney-Williams family, Judge Snell set the starting point at 3.2 years.
Elmiger was given some discount for her previous good behaviour, letters of support, and time already spent on bail.
A Taupo¯ business, where she worked as a financial controller while remanded on bail, also wrote her a character reference.
Outside court Richard Blakeney-Williams shook with relief. ‘‘If you ask me how I feel I would not know how to answer,’’ he said.
‘‘Justice has been done. I must say the police and detectives have been absolutely amazing throughout this experience and very caring.’’
The family have managed to stay together throughout the ordeal but they admit there were many rough nights.
Richard now relied on antidepressants and sleeping pills as stress-related illnesses started to affect him.
However, there is hope the future will be brighter. He says he has realised what is important in life through the ordeal and has set about his retirement plans put on hold when he hired Elmiger.
‘‘I just want to fish and spend more time with the family and the grandchildren and put her behind us,’’ he said.