Fraudsters wed

A couple sentenced to home detention for benefit fraud have been allowed out after less than 24 hours - to get married.

Katarina Merveen White and Neville Glyn Carson were planning to be married before they were sentenced on benefit fraud charges but a family bereavement meant they had to postpone the wedding.

When the Reporoa couple appeared in the Taupo District Court last week Judge Phillip Cooper granted a request for them to go ahead with their wedding the next day.

Each had pleaded guilty to seven charges - three of wilful omission and four of dishonestly using a document.

Between them, they received almost $70,000 in benefit overpayments.