Son must pay mother back $57,830
Within a few days, a 19-year-old Rangiora man will pay back all of the $57,830 he drained from his mother’s bank account after she left to live in England.
The money was from Ryan Spencer Billington’s mother’s divorce settlement, and was taken after she had trusted him with her PIN number and access codes to take care of her banking matters.
Christchurch District Court Judge David Saunders told Billington at his sentencing: “Your mother trusted you and you let her down considerably.”
But the judge said it was a significant factor that Billington was now able to pay back all of the money, from selling assets he had bought with the money, and from savings.
Questioned by the judge, Billington said the money had not been lost through any gambling addiction, and pointed out that he was still under age.
He said he had bought a vehicle, and a boat, which had now been sold to get the money. He had sold the vehicle for a profit. He already had the money and would be able to pay it to the court within a few days.
Billington had pleaded guilty in June to a charge of obtaining the money by deception. He is employed on a sheep farm where he is second in charge.
Defence counsel Lynn Malin urged the judge to accept the recommendations in Billington’s pre-sentence report for supervision, community detention, and a reparation order.
Judge Saunders accepted that. He imposed supervision for six months, with an order that Billington take treatment, counselling, or budgetary advice as directed, three months of community detention with a nightly curfew, and repayment of the $57,830 within 28 days to the courts.
“It is important that the money go back to your mother,” said the judge. “We have the details of her account.”
Category: News
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