A SOLICITOR yesterday described the drug ice as “insidious” when telling a magistrate about a Thurgoona girl who was involved in credit card fraud while suffering psychosis.
The impact of the drug on the girl, 17, was outlined by solicitor Mark Cronin in Albury Children’s Court after she pleaded guilty to six charges.
The girl, who has no previous convictions, was charged with receiving stolen property, making a false document and four counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception.
“This matter has proven an enormous shock to her mother and sisters,” Mr Cronin said.
He said the ice had been supplied to the girl by people who stayed at her house while her mother was overseas.
Mr Cronin said the girl had been “in a bad way” after taking the drug.
She spent 10 days as an inpatient at the Nolan House psychiatric unit at Albury Base Hospital being treated for psychosis after her sister found her. She is now under the care of the Albury Community Mental Health team.
The girl had been given a National Bank credit card stolen from a house in Affleck Street, Albury on November 5.
She knew where it came from and used nail polish remover to erase the signature on the back of it before signing it herself.
The card was used five times to make three purchases, including $180 of alcohol from a bottle shop.
Another attempt to use it was made about 2pm on the same date, but by then the card had been cancelled.
Mr Cronin said the girl was remorseful and had provided an honest and frank interview to police after attending the station with her mother.
The items bought, apart from the alcohol, were given to police and returned to the owners.
Magistrate Megan Greenwood said property valued at almost $600 had been stolen while the girl was struggling with drug addiction.
Ms Greenwood put the girl on 12-month probation orders for each charge without conviction.
It is a condition that the girl remains in the care of the mental health team and obeys all treatment directions.