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<\/p>\nThe thief who broke into fashion designer Dame Trelise Cooper and stole nearly a million dollars’ worth of high-end clothing can now be named.<\/p>\n
Nicholas James Bush’s interim name suppression expired at 5pm after the High Court confirmed he had not filed an appeal against the Auckland District Court’s decision to end his anonymity.<\/p>\n
The 42-year-old had earlier argued for secrecy because he claimed to be a “well-known” television industry worker. Online records purport to show Bush has worked as part of the crew for TV shows, including The X Factor NZ and Jono and Ben, in the past.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, Bush pleaded guilty to three charges, including burglary and a representative charge of obtaining by deception. The couture criminal is due to be sentenced later this year.<\/p>\n
The break-in occurred at Cooper’s head office in Auckland’s Newmarket last October and resulted in her entire 2021 spring and summer samples being nicked by Bush.<\/p>\n
Court documents show between 6pm on October 17 and 8.30am on October 19 the burglary occurred at Cooper’s office and some 2000 items of clothing, valued at about $887,612, were stolen.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the Herald after the burglary, Cooper said access was gained into the styling room through a vent in an electrical room.<\/p>\n
Cooper has been strongly opposed to suppression continuing for those charged to help end baseless social media speculation that her staff were involved in an “inside job”.<\/p>\n
In a statement today, Cooper said she and her staff were relieved name suppression has been lifted and Bush has taken responsibility for the burglary.<\/p>\n
“It had an enormous negative impact for our business, financially and reputationally,” she said. “There were many false allegations made about our company’s involvement in the burglary … My reputation and integrity have been cleared now that the offender has taken responsibility and the court has allowed publication of his name.”<\/p>\n
None of those charged by police in the case have any connection to Cooper or her business.<\/p>\n
Bush and two others were arrested after police conducted a search of a property in central Auckland last November. Police have said “a significant amount” of the clothing has been returned to Cooper, but it continues to be recovered and in March a police prosecutor told the court “about three-quarters” was still unaccounted for.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Cake decorator and private investigator Kathy Stephens, one of the three people arrested last year, was named earlier this week after an unsuccessful High Court appeal to keep name suppression.<\/p>\n
The 45-year-old and the third accused, 46-year-old florist Andrea Nicole Edwards, are due to stand trial together next year on charges for allegedly receiving the stolen garments, knowing it to have been pinched.<\/p>\n
While Stephens is accused of only receiving a relatively small portion of the clothes, including two jackets and dresses, Edwards is charged with receiving the bulk of the garments worth about $500,000.<\/p>\n
A fourth person, a 26-year-old woman, was also charged in May with allegedly receiving some of the clothing.<\/p>\n
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