The Court of Appeal has ruled to dismiss Margaret Drake's appeal. Photo: Mark Mitchell / NZHA Christchurch benefit fraudster and her tax-evading partner's bid to appeal their sentence has been denied. Leticia Margaret Drake of Shirley was convicted of benefit fraud that spanned over 10 years between 2005 and 2015 and sentenced to six months periodic detention and 12 months supervision in 2016. They have now tried to appeal that decision but in a decision released by the court of appeal today, it has been dismissed. The grounds for the appeal included Stewart denying the allegations of tax evasion and denied any knowledge of Drake's offending.

Source: Otago Daily Times October 14, 2020 23:15 UTC