mmg.com.au

A Shepparton woman accused of using a stolen credit card to buy more than $1000 worth of goods while on bail for several counts of theft, was yesterday remanded in custody.

Michelle Preela, 45, faced a charge of theft, five counts of obtaining property by deception and one charge for attempting to obtain property by deception.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Penny Lawler told Shepparton Magistrates’ Court Ms Preela entered Goulburn Valley Health’s allied health building on Thursday afternoon last week and stole a blue handbag.

It contained several personal items, including a wallet, iPhone and bank cards.

Sen Const Lawler said the woman then allegedly spent about $1200 on a credit card from the handbag at several retail outlets in Shepparton, including Target, Kmart and Safeway. The court heard the woman was identified by CCTV footage and arrested on Friday last week at her home in Paterson Rd, Shepparton, where the stolen property was found.

Police opposed bail, citing 29 pages of prior offences relating to dishonesty and matters in Western Australia, where she had allegedly breached bail.

Ms Preela, who appeared without a defence lawyer, said she would willingly report to police daily if released on bail.

She told the court she had been undertaking drug and alcohol counselling and had not used drugs for eight months.

Magistrate John Murphy said Ms Preela’s history showed she was ‘‘clearly an unacceptable risk’’ and said she would not get the help she needed if she was released.

Mr Murphy refused bail and Ms Preela was remanded in custody until another hearing on March 25.