October 28, 2011

Repeat on-line cheat caught

By David Clarkson at the Nga Hau e Wha marae

On-line cheat Shannon Marie Cleave-Harvey has been caught out again.

The Linwood 22-year-old pleaded guilty to four charges of accessing Trade Me?s computer system by deception, at a Christchurch District Court sitting at the Nga Hau e Wha marae today.

When Judge Alistair Garland looked at her criminal record, he commented: ?It is precisely the same sort of offence that is listed on her conviction list in 2008.?

He remanded Cleave-Harvey on bail for sentence on March 26, at Rangiora, and ordered a pre-sentence report to consider her suitability for community detention which would impose a night-time curfew on her activities.

He also said he was thinking that a community work sentence would be appropriate.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Paul Brocas said Cleave-Harvey had offered to sell four items ? iPhones, an iPad, an and engine and gearbox ? which she did not have.

She had approached buyers on-line or by text after accessing part of the system where she obtained contact numbers, after she had her own Trade Me listing withdrawn. ?

Goods were paid for with funds deposited in the bank account she provided.

Brocas said the losses to four customers were $1565.

He said Cleave-Harvey?s explanation to the police was that ?people close to her were screwing her over?.