Her husband will be picking up the bills. Made with funding from NZ On Air.
A convicted fraudster avoided being resentenced to a potential prison term today, instead being told to pay reparation at half the original rate a court had ordered.
Stratford woman Helen Christine Williams appeared in New Plymouth court this afternoon before Judge Chris Sygrove for resentencing after failing to meet herreparation payment schedule.
The court heard Williams - who was sentenced to 12 months home detention in January last year for stealing $320,000 from her elderly father - was also ordered to repay the debt at the rate of $200 a week.
Her lawyer, Julian Hannam, told the judge the repayment schedule she had originally offered was in fact half this amount, being $100 a week.
He said Williams herself had no independent means whatsoever.
One hundred dollars a week was a manageable amount for the family Mr Hannam said.
Judge Sygrove told Williams he could not impose a prison sentence on her if she didn't have the means to pay the reparation.
"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," he said before he ordered the payments be made at the rate of $100 a week.
John Thomson, brother of Helen Williams, the woman who has been convicted of stealing $320,000 from their father, outside the New Plymouth District Court. Photo / Ilona Hanne
Williams' brother John Thomson told NZME he was disappointed with today's outcome and the original sentence.
"The justice system had an opportunity to make an example of her but didn't," he said.
He was supported in court by friends and family members, one saying they were concerned other people may have fallen victim to Williams as well.
