A Hamilton man has been sentenced to six months home detention and 150 hours community work in relation to dozens of theft and fraud offences.

Pleading guilty to a total of 49 charges during an earlier appearance, Mathew Raymond Phillips, 44, and was sentenced in the Hamilton District Court on Friday.

Hamilton man Mathew Raymond Phillips, 44, has been sentenced to six months home detention and 150 hours community work in relation to 49 theft and fraud offences. Photo: Police

Waikato Tactical Crime Unit senior constable Myles O'Donnell says Phillips' crimes include fradulently obtaining the identity of another person, as well as defrauding his then-retail employer and stealing money by transferring business refunds to his own bank card, among other methods.

'As well as our own investigations, police were provided with some excellent evidence. This allowed investigators to build up a file to prosecute our person of interest."

Mysles says Waikato Police is pleased Phillips was put before the courts and has been held to account for his actions.

His thoughts are with the victims of his crimes who have suffered a great deal of stress due to Phillips' actions.

'Phillips is a cunning individual. But in the end, as today's sentencing shows, he wasn't so smart. The sentencing serves as a reminder to criminals that the law will eventually catch up with them.”