A partially paralysed man will no longer be able to pay for renovations to make his house inhabitable after a Hamilton woman allegedly stole $36,000 from his bank account.
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Jennifer Castleman, 20, appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon charged with 18 theft and deception offences.
The court heard Ms Castleman was arrested by Hamilton uniform police officers on Thursday.
Police allege the victim and the accused woman know each other through a mutual friend.
The male victim is in a wheelchair after losing feeling in both his legs.
The court heard the victim's laptop computer and bank card, including his passwords, were previously stolen from inside his house.
He noticed a $2000 fraudulent ATM withdraw and contacted the police.
An image of the withdrawal taking place allegedly led to Ms Castleman being identified.
A further investigation revealed $36,203 was stolen from the victim's account over the course of two days.
The majority of the transaction were internet transactions with the one $2000 ATM withdrawal.
The court heard the victim had sold his car and saved the stolen money in order to pay for renovations to his home.
The renovations were expected to make the home more inhabitable for the man, who had limited movement.
The court heard that at the time of the alleged offending, Ms Castleman was on summons for a violent assault.
The court heard she allegedly attacked a vulnerable person, striking him across the face with a leather belt numerous times and holding a steak knife to his throat.
That matter is expected to be heard in court in January next year.
Lawyer Ian Pugh said Ms Castleman was a vulnerable person who was diagnosed with Autism.
"There would be real issues on remand with her vulnerabilities," he said.
Mr Pugh said if she was released from custody, Ms Castleman would have strong support under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Magistrate Mark Stratmann said the charges were "extremely serious".
He said admissions had been made in relation to the theft and withdrawal of $2000, but not the remaining funds.
He said the victim was "likely now in considerable financial stress", and that the assault relating to the second vulnerable victim was also "serious and concerning".
Referring to medical document submitted to the court, Mr Stratmann said he was concerned that Ms Castleman had refused to attend a neuropsychologist appointment.
But he said he accepted Ms Castleman was supported by the government.
The magistrate granted the accused woman bail with strict conditions, including she not contact witnesses, abide by a 9pm to 6am curfew and comply all lawful directions of NDIS.
She will appear in Hamilton Magistrates Court on January 6.
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