Theft of car and card gets detention, curfew

A woman who tried to use a fake prescription also racked up more than $1000 in charges on a bank card she stole from a friend.

Janelle Hunt, 31, also took a friend's car without permission.

She was staying in the victim's Mangaweka bach with the victim at the end of May 2014, Judge David Cameron told Whanganui District Court on Wednesday.

The pair were drinking alcohol together and Hunt picked up the car keys from the kitchen bench, taking the vehicle.

"Contact was made in an attempt to get the vehicle back," Judge Cameron said.

Hunt returned the car on June 3, 2014, but there was a towing cost. On November 1 that year, Hunt also went to a Hamilton pharmacy and produced a fraudulent prescription.

Staff recognised it as a fake and called police, but Hunt left before police showed up.

In another incident on January 15, 2014, Hunt stole an ANZ bank card from a friend she had known for 10 years and was living with at the time.

Over January 15 and 16, Hunt used the victim's card, spending $1185.90. On November 9, Hunt tried to use a Visa paywave system to spend $66 at a Hamilton service station. The transaction was declined and it was discovered the card she was using was stolen, Judge Cameron said.

Hunt pleaded guilty to three counts of dishonestly using a document for pecuniary advantage, one count of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, and three of failing to answer bail.

Judge Cameron sentenced her to six months of community detention with a 7pm to 7am curfew, six months of supervision, and ordered she pay reparation of $438.15, and $1185.90.