Convicted rugby sevens fraudster Richard Anderson's real estate licence was cancelled yesterday by the profession's governing body in Wellington.

The 51-year-old was sentenced to 10 months' home detention when he appeared before Judge Michael Turner in Queenstown District Court on Monday.

He defrauded the tournament of $64,000.

Real Estate Agents Authority spokesman Dan Ormond said Anderson's licence was automatically cancelled on conviction. There was no discretion or right of appeal and the law was precise regarding dishonesty offending.

Anderson, of Lake Hayes Estate, pleaded guilty to three counts of by deception and without claim of right causing a loss to the Pub Charity National Sevens.

He admitted causing a loss valued at $41,803 to the Sevens with Altitude committee between June 18, 2009 and October 6, 2010, causing a loss valued at $11,289 on January 1, 2009 and causing a loss valued at $9338 on December 2, 2009.

Judge Turner said he considered the conduct amounted to "a gross abuse of trust" and ordered repayment of the outstanding sum of $48,601 within two years.

Anderson served for 15 years in the police, including nine years as an Auckland detective, before moving to Queenstown in the 1990s.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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