Painter has day in court

A Rotorua painter with a history of ripping off potential clients has been sentenced to community service and promised the court that was the end of his offending.

Nicholas Russell Matenga, 50, had previously admitted two charges of obtaining money by deception, totalling $880, and one charge of receiving stolen property.

Judge Ian Thomas said Matenga, who appeared for sentencing at the Rotorua District Court yesterday, was "a nuisance and a pest". "He pilfers from people when he shouldn't but, despite that, the gravity doesn't mean he's suitable for imprisonment."

He asked Matenga: "When are you going to stop being dishonest?"

"I have your honour," Matenga replied.

"I've got three kids in my care. I've no reason to do that any more."

Matenga was sentenced to 150 hours' community service and was ordered to pay $880 in reparation, which he said had already been paid into his lawyer's trust account.

According to the police summary, Matenga met the owner of Rotorua's Cleveland Motel on December 16, 2011 and agreed to paint the office and the owner's residence for $1150.

He said he would begin at 9am the next day and the work would be done by Christmas.

Matenga requested $550 up front to purchase paint, which the owner transferred to him via internet banking that night.

The next day Matenga did not turn up.

When contacted by the owner, he said he would start on December 19 but he again failed to show up.

The owner was unable to contact him again.

On February 16 last year, Matenga met the owner of Rotorua's Midway Motel and verbally agreed to paint two units for $1530, including paint.

He said he would start on February 20 and be finished two days later.

Matenga was given a $330 cheque to buy paint, which he cashed that day.

He failed to turn up on the agreed start date but showed up a week later, without painting gear, requesting an advance.

The motel owner refused, Matenga left and she never saw him again.

Asked to explain by police, Matenga said: "I can't remember."

The third charge related to two snowboards stolen from an Old Taupo Rd garage by an associate of Matenga.

In December last year, Matenga agreed to help sell them. He took them to a couple of pawn shops in central Rotorua but was unable to find a buyer.

Matenga admitted the charge to police, saying he "did it for money".

Late last year, Matenga was sentenced to 80 hours' community work and was ordered to pay reparation after he admitted obtaining by deception $400 from the owner of Ranolf Bakery in December 2011.