A Hamilton woman has been sentenced to home detention for helping her husband obtain a false passport so he could flee the country to avoid sentencing on sex charges.
Brigette Crause, 51, pleaded guilty in the Hamilton District Court to conspiracy to obstruct the course of justice and giving a false statement on a passport application.
Her husband, Christopher Crause, was on bail awaiting sentence on sexual offences when he left New Zealand using a false passport in May last year.
Crause endorsed a photo of her husband for a new passport which was in a false name.
Judge David Ruth said on Monday he was in no doubt that Crause had done her husband's bidding and was very much a submissive partner in the marriage.
He sentenced her to 10 months' home detention on both charges, to be served concurrently.
