Plimmerton piano dealer Cameron Phillip Crawford has been sentenced to two years and one month jail for a $172,000 fraud on customers of his failed business.

Crawford, 39, a first offender, described himself as a musician not a businessman.

His business Pianoshop went into liquidation in May owing more than $2 million. He could not pay reparation for his offending.

In Wellington District Court today Judge Denys Barry said Crawford had repeatedly fobbed off victims who wanted the proceeds from pianos sold on their behalf, or wanting pianos they had paid for but not received.

In one case a man who paid thousands to have a piano repaired finally got it back eight years later in the same condition in which he had sent it to Crawford.

Crawford had been using customers' money to pay company debts.

Crawford and his wife will lose their home to a secured creditor with no money for other creditors or the Crawfords.

Crawford has been working in the hospitality industry since his business failed.

He pleaded guilty to 10 charges of theft by failing to account and one of causing loss by deception.

Judge Barry said Crawford's depressive illness had escalated as his offending escalated.

- © Fairfax NZ News