Suspicious bank staff catch man

David Charles Oliver cashed forged cheques for an acquaintance who owed him money.

Oliver pleaded guilty to three charges of obtaining a document for pecuniary advantage when he appeared in the Whanganui District Court on Tuesday.

Sergeant Stephen Butler told the court Oliver was asked by a an acquaintance on March 20 to cash two cheques; one for $250 and another for $150.

The victim's signature had been forged on both cheques.

Oliver took the cheques to ANZ bank on Victoria Ave and left with $400 giving $350 to the other person and keeping $50 for himself before returning later that day with a third cheque.

"Staff became suspicious and contacted the account holder who advised they had not written the cheques," Mr Butler said.

Lawyer Stephanie Burlace said Oliver did feel sorry for the victim.

"It would be fair to say that while he thought something wasn't right that he didn't really look into it like he should have or asked the right questions," she said.

"From Mr Oliver's perspective at the time he was owned money by the other gentlemen on this matter and this is where his focus was."

Judge Dugald Matheson said it was more calculated.

"You helped yourself to someone else's money. You knew what was going down and you were a willing participant."

Oliver was convicted and sentenced to 100 hours community work and ordered to pay $200 reparation.