Woman played key role in sheep theft

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A fourth offender charged with the theft of 16 sheep in Eketahuna was singled out as the plan's prime motivator at her sentencing in Palmerston North District Court.

Holly Louise Marlow, 27, was sentenced to 100 hours' community service and two months' community detention for her part in the crime.

Plans were set in motion in June this year when Marlow made contact with friend Debra Paulson to arrange selling the meat. The sheep were then taken from two properties in Eketahuna between July 1 and July 2.

Marlow and three others went to a Eketahuna hotel at about 9pm.

She played the "pokies" while her three male co-offenders went to two lifestyle properties on Newman Rd and High St.

There they slit the throats of a ram and 15 in-lamb ewes.

The men gutted the sheep in the paddocks leaving the heads, offal and the dead ram behind.

The meat was then supplied to Paulson who made a "substantial profit" selling it.

Judge Stephanie Edwards said it was clear Marlow had played a key role in the offending despite not "getting her hands dirty".

Defence lawyer Tony Thackery argued Marlow had no idea how many sheep were to be taken or how.

"The position is she had a friend prepared to take the meat."

The offenders saw this as helping each other out, he said.

An additional 40 hours' community service was handed down to Marlow on a charge of obstructing police and one of possession of a pipe used to smoke methamphetamine.

Her three co-offenders and Paulson have already been sentenced to community work.