24 Apr 2015

No jail time for ex-director

3:58 pm on 24 April 2015

A former media agency director has avoided jail after being found guilty of charges relating to offending involving payments to media suppliers and client invoices.

Auckland District Court

Auckland District Court Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

Glenda Mary Wynyard was sentenced to eight months home detention today on 11 charges that included redirecting payments to repay debts, presenting cheques she knew would bounce, and providing false information.

Judge Brooke Gibson told the Auckland District Court that it was an unusual case and Wynyard was using money from one creditor to repay another in order to save her business.

The Media Counsel (TMC) was a media placement agency that provided services in media planning, media buying, public relations, consumer insights and event management and employed 24 people.

Despite Wynyard's actions, the business failed and the 49-year-old was bankrupted.

Judge Gibson said a creditor was left $452,000 out of pocket but there was no point in ordering a reparation report.

Wynyard's lawyer Paul Davison said his client would be appealing and asked for bail.

Judge Gibson has reserved his decision.