Forgiving Boyfriend Saves Fraud From Jail
Newcastle Herald
Tuesday April 3, 2007
A CONCILIATORY approach by the victim of a $38,896 fraud resulted yesterday in a magistrate reducing the penalty for the offender from jail to 100 hours' community service.
Magistrate Michael Morahan told teacher Kate Elizabeth Howitt in Newcastle Local Court she would have known the court was considering a jail term irrespective of her good record.The conciliatory approach to which Mr Morahan referred was contained in a letter tendered to the court from victim Joshua Perry.Mr Perry said that in recent conversations with Howitt, his former girlfriend, he had noted her remorse and regret for what she had done.In another tendered letter, he said he had reached an understanding with Howitt that she would repay the $10,671 outstanding at $100 a week. She has repaid $28,225.Howitt, 25, formerly of Merewether, and now of Anderson Drive, Tarro, pleaded guilty to four counts of using deception to dishonestly obtain four sums of money between January 19 last year and January 19.Detective David Anson said Howitt was in a relationship with Mr Perry from February 2002 until December 2005.He said in a statement that she had committed one of the offences by using information she had gained to set up an internet bank account in Mr Perry's name.
© 2007 Newcastle Herald