Two years' jail for wedding that wasn't

A 'conman without scruples' racked up $10,000 worth of goods and services for a wedding that never happened. Photo / Thinkstock

A man who duped even his girlfriend with a wedding he never planned to stage, has been jailed for 27 months after ordering goods and services valued at more than $10,000.

Richard Rae Dixon, 37, was described by Judge Mark Perkins as "a con man without scruples" after he pleaded guilty in Gisborne District Court to six charges of causing a loss by deception.

Dixon has a record of 107 previous convictions for dishonesty and he will face a court in Auckland on similar charges.

In January and February, Dixon used a false name and said he was organising a celebration of his wedding and a farewell for his dying mother.

Dixon's girlfriend believed the wedding was going ahead and knew Dixon only by his false name.

He ordered a marquee, chairs, tables and barbecues from a hire company and still owed them $2627.

He hired lighting equipment from another company and still owed $6600.

A hire company transported a four-bay shower from Auckland and Dixon owed the business $1600.

A disc jockey, hired to play for three days, removed his equipment when it became obvious the event was not going ahead. He was still owed $1050.

A grocer was owed $2779.

A valuer was hired after being told Dixon's grandfather was a diplomat who was going to buy the property where he was staying and an adjourning property.

The valuer was owed $2760.

Other businesses provided quotes for sheds (between $200,000 and $300,000), concrete ($121,000), alcohol ($29,136), catering for 4200 people ($24,000) and meat ($5400).

None of those businesses suffered any loss.

The summary of facts said the "sham" was reported by The Gisborne Herald and Dixon "promptly left Gisborne".

He was stopped near Wairoa and arrested.

The court heard Dixon's offending was a continuation of his lifestyle.

Counsel Mark Sceats said Dixon had $60,000 in outstanding reparation for earlier offending.

The affected Gisborne businesses could not hope to be reimbursed for their losses.

Crown prosecutor Steve Manning said Dixon had pleaded guilty a week before his trial and could expect little discount from his final sentence.

The Crown wanted a minimum period imposed with the imprisonment.

Judge Perkins said a community-based sentence was out of the question.

"The time has come for a lengthy sentence."

The judge said 18 months imprisonment was the starting point for sentencing and accepted Crown submissions that an increase was appropriate in light of his previous convictions.

Dixon was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment, reduced by three months "discount" for his late guilty pleas for a final sentence of 27 months imprisonment.

Judge Perkins ordered that Dixon serve at least 18 months in jail before becoming eligible to apply for parole.