A young lady saw her opportunity when she spotted an elderly woman's eftpos card. Olivia Stevens pleaded guilty before the Whanganui District Court on Tuesday to charges relating to the use of a document for pecuniary advantage.
Police prosecutor Rachel Willemsen told the court that Stevens had been at thehome of an 76-year-old acquaintance on October 28.
During the visit Stevens noticed a wallet with an eftpos card and the pin number written down on a piece of paper.
Stevens took the card and, over the next few days, withdrew cash and spent money on clothes and the TAB.
In total, Stevens spent $6069.07 from the victim's card. Stevens told police she had been having money troubles and when she saw the eftpos card she thought her troubles were over.
Her defence counsel, Anna Brosnahan, told the court her client had expressed considerable regret and had already paid the money back to the victim. Judge Phillip Crayton referred Stevens to restorative justice. Sentencing will take place on March 26.
