Judge says man tried to get back at his former partner

A QUEENSTOWN man was trying to get back at his expartner when he impersonated an immigration officer to tell her employer her visa was no longer valid, the Queenstown District Court has heard.

Dean Raymond Stuart (30) appeared before Judge Mark Callaghan at a judgealone trial on one charge of impersonating an immigration officer last week.

Judge Callaghan found the charge proved.

Police alleged Stuart called the Queenstown tourism accommodation provider where his expartner worked on June 13, 2017.

Claiming to be an immigration officer, he said his expartner needed to contact Immigration New Zealand (INZ) because her visa was no longer valid.

The name of the accommodation provider was suppressed.

The woman had been in New Zealand on a partnership visa with Stuart. The relationship broke up and Stuart discovered she was in a relationship with another man.

Stuart acknowledged he made the call, but denied pretending to be an immigration officer.

The receptionist who took the call said the man on the phone said he was ‘‘from Immigration’’, and wanted to speak to someone in human resources.

She transferred the call to the human resources manager.

The manager told the court the man on the phone said his name was Aaron Smith, and that he was calling from Immigration.

She was convinced the man was an immigration officer.

The man said he had been trying to contact the employee but had been unsuccessful. He said she needed to contact INZ as there was a deportation issue.

The manager asked for a number she could call him back on, which he gave. However, although the phone number did go through to INZ, the extension was not active.

After both the manager and employee made inquiries with INZ, it was confirmed the employee was allowed to work until she left the country on June 28, 2017.

She had already confirmed this with INZ on June 8, when she told them her relationship had ended.

Stuart had also contacted Immigration on June 13.

In a text message to an immigration officer, Stuart informed her of the breakup and said he was a ‘‘broken man’’.

Giving evidence at last week’s hearing, Stuart said he made the call because he was unsure if INZ knew about the issue.

He wanted to remain anonymous because the ‘‘biggest fear’’ in a small town was ‘‘airing out your dirty laundry’’.

He ‘‘absolutely’’ denied saying he was an immigration officer.

Crossexamining Stuart, police prosecutor Sergeant Ian Collin suggested Stuart was angry his expartner had cheated on him, and wanted to cause her ‘‘a bit of grief’’.

Stuart said that was not the case.

Delivering his decision on Wednesday, Judge Callaghan said Stuart was trying to get back at his expartner when he made the call.

He did not believe Stuart’s claim he had not introduced himself as working for INZ.

The case was remanded until August 8. Defence lawyer Louise Denton said Stuart would be applying for a discharge without conviction.