Cheque spree

No reparation has been ordered for a 26-year-old man’s $35,137 chequewriting spree around businesses in Otago and Southland.

Defence counsel April Kelland said the prospect of Hayden Tamiti Ayto paying for the goods he took "would be futile".

Some of the goods – paid for with a cheque book for a plastering firm – were recovered but the amount outstanding is still $18,790.

Ayto has pleaded guilty in the Christchurch District Court to 42 charges of obtaining goods by deception, and one charge of giving false details about his identity.

Mrs Kelland said Ayto now said he was sorry for the offending and had been doing rehabilitation courses while on remand in prison.

She said the offending took place in Otago and Southland from July 29 to August 21, 2014.

Judge Brian Callaghan noted it took place soon after Ayto had been sentenced for 14 similar dishonesty offences, with a term of community detention and community work. That showed he remained a danger to the public "in a commercial sense".

He told Ayto: "I know it won’t help the complainants but I think that realistically the chances of you paying a reparation order for $18,000 is remote. The only comfort I can give the victims is that they can keep their reparation hopes alive by pursuing you civilly."

He made no reparation order but jailed Ayto for 23 months, to be followed by another six months of prison release conditions.