Later, however, 28-year-old Kasharnee Aroha Anderson claimed the fraud had been driven by necessity, the Dunedin District Court heard yesterday.
She told Probation that at the time she had just ended an abusive relationship, was homeless and living in her car.
Without any evidence to confirm that, Judge Michael Turner was unconvinced.
"Given your history and dishonesty and deceitfulness, I’m not prepared to accept your word," he said.
Anderson’s internet swindle began relatively unambitiously but it set the pattern for nearly two months of deception.
It started on April 5, 2021, when she listed a retro toy car for sale on Facebook.
When the victim contacted her, they agreed on a price of $180 and the money was transferred into Anderson’s account.
However, she never sent the toy, making various excuses as to why before promising a refund.
No refund was forthcoming.
The next day Anderson ripped off another Facebook user for $250, supposedly selling a "pedal car".
After the victim had transferred the money, the defendant provided a fake address for them to pick up the item.
In the ensuing weeks, Anderson’s fraud became more audacious.
On April 15 that year, now using the pseudonym "Janelle Stewart", she was paid $6300 for two outboard engines.
Once the money came in, Anderson would simply cut off communication with the victim before inventing a new online identity and repeating the scam.
Court documents showed her victims were scattered all over the country — Balclutha, Winton, West Coast, Auckland and Te Anau.
By May 31, 2021, she had made $21,330 from the fraudulent online sales.
Counsel Chris Lynch said Anderson had been pregnant during the early period of the offending and suffering significant health issues.
She argued the crimes were driven by need but accepted the offending went beyond that.
Anderson pleaded guilty in November 2021 and Judge Turner said the delays in reaching sentencing had been down to her evasiveness.
There had been multiple applications to have the matter transferred to other courts and the defendant had twice failed to attend scheduled sentencings because of Covid.
"The impression I have from that background is you have have avoided accepting responsibility and being dealt with on these charges," the judge said.
While Anderson claimed she wanted to apologise to her victims, when restorative justice meetings were being arranged she said she was "not available".
"You showed no concern for the circumstances of your victims," Judge Turner said.
Anderson was sentenced to seven and a half months’ home detention (to be served in Ashburton) and ordered to repay her victims.
