Fraudster jailed after fleeing

PRISON TERM: Shane Harwood has been jailed on fraud charges. PHOTO/FILE

A swindler who was fortunate to escape a jail sentence apparently thumbed his nose at home detention by absconding before his first day.

Shane Harwood, of Masterton, has now been hit with a jail sentence.

The 32-year-old, convicted of defrauding an elderly Masterton woman of $35,000, had been sentenced on June 23 by Judge Peter Butler to seven months' home detention and six months' supervision for obtaining by deception.

He had befriended the victim who felt under immense pressure to lend him money, the court previously heard.

During an 18-month period, Harwood told her "layer upon layer of lies", including needing money to fight for custody of his children and that his grandmother had died leaving $90,000 which he'd pay her back with.

The victim bought a house for him to live in.

Following sentence Times-Age Facebook posters were outraged because the judge didn't order the fraudster to repay his victim.

A warrant was issued for Harwood's arrest after he absconded before starting to serve the community sentence.

Last week, Judge Arthur Tompkins cancelled Harwood's home detention and imposed a term of 13 months' imprisonment; with six months' post release conditions that he have drug and alcohol counselling.