Wellington, March 2 NZPA - A deaf woman defrauded fellow members of Christchurch's deaf community of more than $130,000 pretending she was well known mortgage lender Mike Pero.

Christine Doreen Ticehurst, 40, from Christchurch, pretended through text messages she was Mr Pero, claiming she could help deaf couple Debra Jamieson and Michael King build a house. She stole $84,000 from them, The Press reported.

Ticehurst was believed to have cheated 12 people in the deaf community.

She pleaded guilty to two charges of obtaining by deception and will be sentenced in the Christchurch District Court on March 8.

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