Carer in charge of finances siphoned $8k from woman's account

A woman who stole more than $8000 from the bank account of a person she was caring for said she was pressured into it by her former partner who she described as an alcoholic who abused her.

Ann Margaret Minchington, also known by her married name Hanley, is now serving a five-month sentence of community detention plus 125 hours of community work on a charge of theft by a person in a special relationship.

Minchington siphoned the money from the woman’s account in 112 separate transactions over five years from 2013.

She told the Nelson District Court during sentencing she had started to repay the victim which reduced Minchington’s reparation order to $7591 to be paid at $50 per week.

Minchington took charge of the victim’s finances when she began overseeing her care in 2011, which meant she had access to her bank account.

The nature of the pair’s connection was suppressed, to protect the victim’s identity.

The victim, who suffered “major health challenges”, became aware of gaps in the accounting when the power company contacted her to say there were not enough funds in the account to cover the direct debit.

Judge Jo Rielly described the breach of trust as significant for several reasons including that the victim was known to Minchington, was “particularly vulnerable” and because the offending had occurred over a prolonged period.

Minchington told police that at the time she was under a lot of stress. Judge Rielly noted her explanation about why the conduct had taken place was that at the time, she was in an abusive relationship with a person described as an alcoholic.

“That person put pressure on you to provide alcohol for him and the only source was from [the person’s] account.”

Judge Rielly also acknowledged that Minchington had not had an easy childhood, had no prior offending, was now in a supportive living situation, and was an important figure in the lives of her grandchildren.

Minchington had also apologised during a Restorative Justice meeting when it was made clear how the victim felt.

Judge Rielly said it seemed that reconciliation had continued and Minchington had been remorseful, but it would “take time for all fences to be mended”.