Amanda McNamara was sentenced in Wellington District Court to three years and six months prison after pleading guilty to obtaining goods by deception,

Amanda McNamara was sentenced in Wellington District Court to three years and six months prison after pleading guilty to obtaining goods by deception, assault with intent to injure and breaching bail conditions.
Crown prosecutor Claire Boshier said the theft of the $50,000 from an 84-year-old woman was premeditated.McNamara targeted the woman on the street, using a fake name of Lisa Moore.McNamara told the woman she was from Auckland and had lost her bag which contained $1000.The woman gave McNamara $100 and took her back to her house where she stayed for about two weeks.McNamara accompanied the woman many times to the ANZ bank.Eventually, on April 15 she convinced the woman to withdraw $50,000.McNamara then left with the money in a taxi saying she was going back to Auckland where her parents would send the woman a cheque.The money has never been seen since.Ms Boshier said that while on remand after her arrest, McNamara assaulted a prison officer, punching her from behind and continuing to hit her until she was pulled off.Defence counsel Sue Earl said it was clear McNamara had an intellectual disability, difficulties with her emotions, and was susceptible to extreme personality changes.She said when she first approached the woman she may have only intended to take $10 but once she saw how vulnerable the woman was, she realised she could take more.She said prison time may give her more insight into her behaviour. Judge Michael Behrens said the charges follow a long history of offences including theft, and assault dating back to 2002.He said reports on her indicated she had suffered an extensive history of abuse and neglect from an early age and he expected her to re-offend.He said while it was sad to have to send her to prison at such a young age, it was more important that society was protected from her.

Posted in: Wellington District Court