An Auckland man who faked his own death six years ago and disappeared to live in Christchurch under a false identity, has been jailed for two years and four months.
Bruce Dale, 43, was sentenced in the Christchurch District Court on Friday afternoon on charges of false pretences and using a document to obtain pecuniary advantage.
Dale staged a suicide at Port Waikato's Sunset Beach in 2002. He then moved to Christchurch where he assumed the name Michael Peach - a name belonging to an infant who died 47 years ago.
His ruse was discovered this year when he applied for a passport under his old name, not realising his wife had had him declared dead and collected life insurance.
In a victim impact statement his wife said she had been through six years of hell, and the two sons they had together are angry and confused.
Judge Paul Kellar said Dale had benefitted from the deception by starting a new life and leaving behind his financial woes.
Dale's lawyer Barry Hart is surprised his client was not offered home detention, as he says he is not a risk to anybody.
Mr Hart says Dale is remorseful, and has offered to pay $30,000 reparation.
