Imprisonment was replaced by home detention after serial offender Quentin Kyle Richards paid in full $50,000 stolen from his employer.
The High Court was told Richards ripped off his Christchurch-based employer by diverting customer orders for furniture, having their bespoke marble benchtops manufactured at his employer’s expense and then pocketing the price paid. When one theft was discovered, Richards lied, saying it was a one off because he was under financial pressure. When proof of his financial difficulties was demanded, Richards prevaricated, staging a break-in to his own vehicle before saying all documentation had gone missing.
An internal audit, a review of video footage and checks with past customers identified about $50,000 had been stolen in the previous twelve months. Richards had been with the company for seven years. Forensic evidence available went back one year only. After pleading guilty to theft in a special relationship, Richards was sentenced to 17 months’ imprisonment. He had previously served home detention after stealing from another employer.
On appeal, Richards sentence was amended to six and a half months’ home detention for the benchtop thefts. The $50,000 proved stolen was repaid out of personal savings together with $38,000 withdrawn from his Kiwisaver account.
Richards v. Police – High Court (31.08.18)
18.175