Fraudster's Star Wars Lego spree

A student who fraudulently used credit cards to buy collectible Star Wars Lego at astronomical prices found the force of police with him.

Yiu Fung Cheng, 24, has been sentenced in Wellington District Court after earlier admitting five charges of deception and using a computer for dishonest purposes at his parents' home in Churton Park last year.

After police searched Cheng's home in November, further items were found, which the court was told could lead to more charges being laid.

Cheng's parents were in court where a cheque for $11,540 in reparation was offered. This is understood to cover the cost of other items identified by police during the search.

Cheng used other people's credit card details between July and August to buy Lego items online, including limited edition Star Wars sets two Imperial Destroyers worth $965, two Death Stars at $1679 and a Ultimate Collectors Millennium Falcon for $1000 and a combine harvester.

Police said Cheng admitted the offending and in explanation stated that he was feeling depressed.

Judge Bruce Davidson said that, having read Cheng's psychiatric report, there were "deep-seated psychiatric causes" for his offending.

In addition to the $11,540 reparation, he was ordered to carry out 140 hours' community work.