Fraudster's mansion birthday bash

Shaan Stevens. Photo / Supplied

A fraudster serving home detention in his multimillion-dollar mansion sent out invitations to a "convicts and tarts" 50th birthday bash, angering one of his victims, who is still waiting for reparation.

The invites to Shaan Stevens' party promised a "glittering array of costumes and finery should be on display, as the elite of the criminal underworld and their entourage strut their stuff through the night".

Stevens was sentenced last November to 10 months' home detention and 150 hours' community work and ordered to repay $121,851 to his victims.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to seven charges of falsifying documents, 13 of being a party to falsifying documents, one of falsifying income tax returns and one of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The former Wellington Free Ambulance chairman was an executive director of consultancy firm Guinness Gallagher and a member of the Victoria University council.

He created false invoices to five clients to obtain tens of thousands of dollars over the course of five years.

Judge Denys Barry ordered Stevens to serve his sentence at his home at 11 Sovereign Pt, Kaiwharawhara, Wellington. The property has a rateable value of $4.8 million and is described on Stevens' News of the World-style party invitation as his "hideaway".

"Big turnout expected for well known bete noire Shaan Stevens 50th birthday celebrations at his 11 Sovereign Point, Kaiwharawhara, hideaway on Saturday March 10th," reads the invite, which appears to show a man urinating into the sea.

"It's not so much who will be there but who hasn't been invited," it continues.

"Starred as the must get to event for 2012, the special event is scheduled to kick off at 8pm, with many of the guests expected to be lining up for the star studded evening."

But yesterday, Stevens said he had cancelled the party following inquiries from APNZ. Only 15 people had been invited.

"Some friends were going to come across and bring some food," he said.

Stevens said rocks had been thrown at his house during his court case and someone had disconnected the water.

He did not want to put his family - including his elderly mother, who lived with him and his wife - through that again.

He also said he was on anti-depressants. "It's just too much for me."

Asked whether he thought it appropriate for someone on home detention to be throwing a party when people were still awaiting reparation, Stevens said he had paid some.

But one woman he has been ordered to pay $43,000 to said she was very upset about his party plan.

"I'm just at a loss to explain how he can have what will be a high-profile party in a $5 million mansion," said the lawyer, who did not want to be named.

It showed a lack of awareness and a lack of remorse, she said.

She had not minded Stevens' getting home detention, she said, because she did not believe jail was the place for him. But she was "very upset" over his party plans, given that she was having to pay $5000 a month in tax and interest to the IRD because of his actions.

"I am finding it very difficult. He's sitting up there in his mansion, seemingly living a generous lifestyle." She had a simple message for Stevens: "Pay me."

A Corrections Department spokeswoman said Stevens contacted his parole officer yesterday to say he was cancelling his party; the department had not been aware of it until then.

Home detention conditions were specific to each offender, and Stevens did not have any that banned alcohol or parties.

But Corrections did not believe a party was appropriate and was pleased he had cancelled it.

Stevens' house has been on the market since January last year.

He must repay the $121,851 to his clients within 28 days of it selling, or by May 7 next year if it does not sell.