Jail for benefit fraudster

Jail was the only option for a Whangarei mother who ripped off taxpayers by fraudulently claiming rental subsidy while serving a non-custodial sentence for a similar offence.

Casey Walters, 30, was convicted on seven charges of using a forged document and two of obtaining money by deception after she pocketed $17,000 from the Social Development Ministry over a three year period by providing various addresses where she didn't live.

"The ministry wasn't created for people like you to mercilessly rip it off," Judge Allan Roberts said.

"For you it was business as usual. Here's the State, let's rip it off."

A mother of seven, her lawyer Kelly Johnson said she was under pressure looking after that many children which prompted her to offend. Judge Roberts told Mr Johnson to focus his submissions on the length of a jail term.

The lawyer said a sentence of between three and four months would be appropriate.

In May 2008, Walters applied for a benefit and nominated various addresses where she claimed to have lived.

She was paid $17,183.

She stood in the dock sobbing.

Judge Roberts said the pre-sentence recommendation of community work was perhaps a fall-back position which he would disregard.

Towards the end of her sentencing, a man from the public gallery intervened, asking the judge whether he could say something.

Judge Roberts said he may not before sentencing Walters to six months in jail.

"What about her seven children sir?" the man then shouted.

The judge ignored him.