Woman involved in advertising scam teary at sentencing

The SFO alleges the scam netted almost $1 million in total. Photo / File

A woman involved in an advertising scam that allegedly netted almost $1 million has been sentenced to community work and supervision.

Aucklander Terran Elizabeth Dow, 47, was sentenced to 220 hours of community work and 12 months of supervision when she appeared before the Wellington District Court this morning.

Dow was one of five people charged over the scam, which the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) says police say involved selling advertisements in non-existent magazines.

She pleaded guilty earlier this year to five charges of dishonestly taking or using a document.

Four others - Noelene Kay Banton, James Stephen Burns, Johannes Hendrik Maria Middledorp and Anthony John Hendon - are facing trial later this year.

SFO prosecutor Philip Gardyne told the court Dow's offending occurred between May 2010 and December 2012.

During that time, she received about $29,000 from the scam, Mr Gardyne said.

Dow was a director of four companies involved in the scheme and responsible for opening up bank accounts and accepting transactions from parties for offered services.

The companies received almost $183,000.

The SFO alleges the scam netted almost $1 million in total.

Ms Dow was visibly upset during the sentence, appearing teary and red-faced in the dock.

Her lawyer, Sandy Baigent, said Dow knew what she did was wrong and "fully appreciates how her actions here led to the facilitation of significant fraud on others".

Judge Susan Thomas said: "The Serious Fraud Office acknowledged that you may not have known the extent of the scam, but you did know that your actions facilitated Mr Hendon's alleged offending.

"You were not the instigator, you were unaware of the extent of the scam, you acted on instructions, you face no charges of making any representations to victims."

Dow has agreed to give evidence in the trial of her co-accused.