Jailed fraudster plans on cashing in

Christian Glennie in the Tauranga District Court. Photo / APN

A fraudster who claimed he had millions stashed overseas while travelling throughout New Zealand pretending to live the high life has been sent to prison - but still believes he can access his fortune upon his release.

Christian John Glennie, 68, of Tauranga, who suffers from a delusional disorder and has spent the last 18 months in a psychiatric hospital, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison by Judge John MacDonald in Tauranga District Court yesterday.

Glennie's crime spree involved him entering into various contracts with car and farm machinery dealers, a motelier, and borrowing $132,238 from two South Auckland residents on the promise that all the funds would be repaid to them once his millions, amassed through mining interests, money deals and overseas lottery wins, were "freed up from overseas''.

In June, Judge MacDonald found Glennie guilty of 36 charges.

Glennie presented various bogus documents as evidence of his financial status and also claimed US$36 million ($41.3 million) was owed to him from money trading in America. He was involved in fighting a court case in London trying to get that money released and told the South Auckland victims he wanted to borrow the money to pay his Nigerian-based lawyer to get it.

Glennie's offending also included taking possession of a $61,875 Isuzu truck from a Christchurch dealer in September 2006, which had to be repossessed due to non-payment. Between September 2001 and October 2007 he signed up to buy at least 20 vehicles, including two Nissan utilities and a new Audi Q7 from Bay Nissan Tauranga valued at total of $240,000.

He was also lent a $32,000 Nissan Tiida by Bay Nissan which was repossessed, and in January 2009 he offered to buy two farm bikes valued at $19,490 from a Taumarunui dealer.

Yesterday, Glennie's lawyer Nicholas Dutch argued his client should receive a community-based sentence of two years or less, considering his mental health and the direct involvement this had in his offending, along with his age.
However, crown prosecutor Hayley Sheridan suggested 3 to 3-1/2 years in prison was appropriate, taking into account that his most serious offending occurred while on bail.

"You continue to express delusional beliefs of still being owed money and pursuing it on your release,'' Judge MacDonald said.

Mr MacDonald said Glennie's responsibility for his offending was somewhat diminished because of his illness.

"Despite what you did and despite the loss that you caused you only ever derived a very minimal amount.''

He took into account his age, previous dishonesty convictions and the financial loss, hardship and embarrassment caused to his victims when sentencing Glennie.
Mr MacDonald said there was no point in seeking reparation for his victims.