A baker who made fraudulent support claims to pay for his daughter's medical treatment avoided jail after a judge said he had a "wholly exceptional" case.
Ross Baldwin, 38, of Tekapo, pleaded guilty to receiving $6300 in carer support payments he was not entitled to.
He was convicted in the Oamaru District
Court and ordered to pay reparation and court costs for each of seven charges, totalling $910.
Baldwin had claimed the Health Board payments between December 2001 and August last year for 105 "support days", allowing him to take a break from caring for his epileptic daughter.
The money was spent on living expenses, shifting, buying a car, and his daughter's medical costs.
Defence counsel Merrin Gill told the court Baldwin and his wife had lived in the Bay of Plenty with two young children when their daughter Natasha was born with severe epilepsy.
He relied on staff in his bakery to cover for him while he took his daughter to the doctor, but had to close the shop because of thefts.
Natasha was then having up to 50 fits a day and treatment was sought in Australia.
The family moved to Wellington, then Christchurch to live with relatives, then to Fairlie.
Miss Gill said Baldwin was ready to repay the full $6300.
Prosecution lawyer Michael de Buyzer said there was a degree of sophistication and planning, but the guilty plea and reparation were significant mitigating factors.
Judge Gary MacAskill acknowledged the considerable strain caused by Natasha's condition. He said the circumstances were exceptional and leniency was appropriate.
- NZPA
