A Wellington beneficiary who masqueraded as a decorated soldier has been sentenced to community detention.
Bruce Reid, 38, pleaded guilty in Porirua District Court to obtaining by deception, the Dominion Post reported.
He sent an email to a property inspection company in March pretending to be a lieutenant colonel holding the post of deputy director of New Zealand Special Operations Force (Intelligence).
He also claimed to be an officer of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and to have received the Queen's Gallantry Medal.
Dressed in full uniform complete with medals, he attempted to pay for the inspection report with a credit card, which was later declined.