KEY POINTS:
A theology graduate from Nottingham University is one of two English tourists who have admitted making a false claim of being robbed in Queenstown so they could make insurance claims.
They both apologised to the police and the court when they appeared in Christchurch District Court today and
pleaded guilty.
Nicholas Charles Sym, 21, and Robert Stewart Dicks, 22, still say they were assaulted by a large group of men on Queenstown's Esplanade, but they have now acknowledged nothing was taken.
Their ruse was found out when an off-duty policemen saw them in the supermarket the next day with the wallets they said had been stolen in the robbery, Judge Jane Farish was told today.
Judge Farish has told them to pay $1000 each to the Queenstown police search and rescue organisation before they are allowed to leave the country.
They fly out of Christchurch tomorrow for more touring in Asia before they return to Britain.
The pair graduated from Nottingham University last July, with Dicks having a degree in business management and Sym having a degree in philosophy and theology.
Police prosecutor Trudi Aickin said the pair were assaulted about 12.15am on May 18 by a group of unknown men. Sym says he was knocked unconscious. The police say the pair received minor injuries.
They were spoken to afterwards by the police and made statements later that day. In their statements, they said they had been robbed.
Dicks said a $500 digital camera, and a wallet containing $160 had been taken. Sym said a $250 cellphone, $390 digital camera, and wallet containing $70 had been taken from him.
When they were seen with their wallets the next day, they were arrested and admitted that they planned to make insurance claims.
Police time had been wasted investigating the false robbery complaint, said Miss Aickin.
Duty solicitor Carole Morgan said the pair were extremely ashamed by their behaviour.
"They were initially angry at having been the victims of an unprovoked assault but see that was no justification for their actions that followed."
From the dock, Sym apologised to the officers, the judge, and the court and assured Judge Farish it would not happen again.
"It is something I have got to live with and take back with me."
Dicks said "we are very remorseful for what we have done."
Judge Farish said it had been premeditated, and would have been serious offending to make false claims.
She said it was inappropriate to discharge the pair without conviction.
She convicted them and ordered the emotional harm reparations for search and rescue.
She said they would have to pay the money before they were allowed to leave the country.
- NZPA
