‘Struggling’ playcentre treasurer took $5790 over 16 months

IT was not quite as easy as taking candy from a baby but a Dunedin playcentre treasurer’s scam was only slightly more sophisticated.

Sara Ruth Homes (26) was one of two signatories for the St Leonards Playcentre financial accounts.

She was trusted.

Between February 2015 and June 2016, the mother of three used cheques to siphon money into her bank accounts.

Homes was desperate, her lawyer, Ann Leonard, told the Dunedin District Court yesterday.

Despite her husband working, his income was not enough to cover everything they needed.

‘‘They were unable to pay rent and threatened with eviction,’’ Ms Leonard said.

‘‘She was struggling to keep the children fed and clothed.’’ And so it began.

Over the course of 24 transactions, Homes swindled the playcentre out of $5790.

‘‘Her standing as a respected member of that local community has been seriously affected to her detriment,’’ Ms Leonard said.

But it had not stopped the playcentre’s management sitting down with her for a restorative justice conference.

Judge Dominic Flatley said Homes’ apology and her remorse was accepted by the victims and repayment of the stolen cash had started.

He said the offending was aggravated by its sustained nature.

‘‘You worked out how you could get money for yourself that did not belong to you and you went about it over a reasonably long period of time,’’ he said.

‘‘Your offending would have had a significant impact on the playcentre. Funds, I’m sure, are tight . . . and they could’ve done many good things for the children with the money you’ve taken.’’

The court heard how Homes’ three children were all under the age of 5 and one of them had special needs.

That, and the stress it had caused her, was not an excuse for the ensuing fraud, the judge said.

Ms Leonard urged the court to impose a therapeutic sentence that would help her client get her life in order.

She said community work would be inappropriate because of Homes’ childcare commitments.

But Judge Flatley said the case was too serious to avoid a punitive penalty.

‘‘I must ensure the sentence I impose on you makes you responsible for this offending,’’ he said.

‘‘If you take something out of the community, you put something back in.’’

He ordered her to complete 200 hours’ community work and 12 months’ intensive supervision, during which she would undergo counselling and obtain budgeting advice.

Homes was ordered to repay the $5790 at $10 a week.

Judge Flatley refused an application to photograph the defendant because of the ‘‘issues’’ she was dealing with and her background.