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Bejon Haswell / Stuff
Timaru camera and telescope retailer Robert Francis McTague has been jailed.
A telescope and camera retailer who defrauded more than $ 100,000 from customers to fuel his methamphetamine addiction has been jailed.
Robert Francis McTague, 62, was a renowned Timaru businessman for many years, until he was caught up in a costly drug habit that forced him to demand advance deposits to pay off his debts, said Judge Joanna Maze.
“Bona fide trading ceased when business began to fail.
“In your own words, you were robbing Peter to pay Paul. It would further fuel the anger and anguish of the victims, because their hard-earned money was used to pay off the methamphetamine dealers. “
McTague was sentenced to two years in prison when he appeared before Judge Maze in Timaru District Court on Thursday.
But the judge did not order redress, as McTague “could barely keep body and soul together.”
“Your addiction has cost you everything except the clothes you are wearing.”
McTague had pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and representative charges of causing losses through deception and theft by a person in a special relationship.
Judge Maze said McTague “deprived” 21 victims in New Zealand, including individuals, businesses and a school, of $ 101,765.92 by selling them telescopic and camera equipment, but never delivered between May 11, 2017 and October 23, 2018.
After his dishonesty was exposed by the media, he used fake social media profiles to keep scamming customers.
“There was little sophistication in the infraction. Lies and excuses were never going to buy you much time, ”Judge Maze said.
Police searched McTague’s home and discovered two bags containing 0.6 grams of methamphetamine on June 15, 2018.
Judge Maze said the crime was triggered by McTague who acquired a drug habit about four years ago, although the defendant did not reveal how it developed at such a “late age.”
McTague had lost his marriage, friends, family and income due to his addiction, and he told his victims in an apology letter: “I am not saying that out of sympathy, but you could take away something that I did not gain from this.”
Judge Maze read multiple shock statements from victims lamenting McTague’s “complete betrayal”, his barrage of lies intended to “keep us on the hook”, budding astronomers losing their “enthusiasm” for the field of study, the “sleepless nights” and their abandonment owing to the banks a “substantial amount of money”.
One victim described being invaded by police from the McTague address when she went there seeking answers, Judge Maze said.
“His first appearance on these charges was some time ago … Many of the victims have commented on the passage of time and the impact it has had.”
Judge Maze said that ordering redress would cause McTague “undue hardship” as he was near insolvency, but that did not stop victims from filing a claim against him through the Dispute Court.
“He is already paying off a modest amount of civil debts that relate to some of the current victims.”
Judge Maze granted McTague permission to request house arrest.
The judge rejected defense attorney Timothy Jackson’s request for McTague to serve house arrest in a hotel, accepting Crown Prosecutor Anne-Marie McRae’s argument that it would be similar to solitary confinement because the defendant would only have access to one room. small and a bathroom.
The hotel was also licensed, and there would be difficulties in obtaining consent from all its occupants for McTague to live there, the judge said.
