A woman who preyed on and stole from elderly and vulnerable men across Geelong’s north told a court she was “not proud” of her actions.
Charmaine Elston, 36, appeared in the Melbourne division of the Koori Court on Monday where she pleaded guilty to a number of theft and deception offences.
The court heard the former Corio woman preyed on her first victim, an 86-year-old man, when she entered his house in November 2021 asking for a glass of water.
While inside, she grabbed the man tightly around the chest and stole a wallet containing cash.
When Elston left the scene, two other people followed her and managed to get some of the money back.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Alana Groves said police were called and attempts to arrest Elston were made, but they were unsuccessful.
In June last year Elston struck again – this time attending a block of Norlane units in a taxi with two men.
She went to the door of a 65-year-old man’s unit and, under the understanding Elston was his carer, he let her in.
Elston asked the man if she could use the toilet and then went into various rooms before starting to clean. The victim asked Elston to leave, but she refused.
She stole the victim’s wallet, which contained ID cards and a small amount of cash.
As she tried to flee, the victim grabbed Elston by the ankle. The court was told Elston broke free after she dragged the victim along the floor as he held onto her ankle.
She got into the taxi, began emptying the contents of the wallet and used the man’s taxi card to pay for her fare.
On June 30 the same year, Elston walked into a Norlane laundromat and distracted a man so she could steal his wallet.
Elston walked out and used the stolen card at Hungry Jacks, McDonalds and a milk bar. She also used it to buy cigarettes.
Earlier, on April 22, 2022, Elston went to Woolworths a stole a small charity tin.
Elston’s lawyer told the court she was arrested and charged in July last year and remanded in custody until October, when she was bailed to a rehabilitation centre.
After breaching bail she was further remanded until February, when she was bailed again.
The court heard Ms Elston was now in supported accommodation for Indigenous women.
She told the court: “I am not proud of (offending). It plays on my mind.”
In 2018, Elston was jailed for more than three years for stealing tens of thousands of dollars from four elderly victims.
Magistrate Belinda Wallington said Elston had a “wonderful opportunity” at the assisted-living accommodation.
“(The) people you are stealing from are elderly and thus considered vulnerable (which) makes it more serious,” she said.
“(This is an) opportunity for you to turn it all around.”
Sentencing has been deferred until a later date.
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