One of two Ararat people charged over an alleged credit card-skimming scheme has been refused bail due to a risk of endangering the community, including her unborn child.
Mikaela Godwin, 23, and her co-accused partner Jordan Davis, 27, were both refused bail at the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday.
The court was told from September to November the couple went to a number of stores located between Melbourne and Horsham to fraudulently purchase items worth up to $2500.
Stores allegedly targeted include Bacchus Marsh Farm Supplies, Stawell Bi-Rite and Stawell Sportspower.
The court was told Davis allegedly used credit card details he obtained from his mobile telephone when purchasing the items, while Godwin allegedly drove him to the stores.
Days after the alleged purchases, banks contacted the stores to notify them the transactions had failed.
The court was told on one occasion in October 16, Davis purchased $2530 worth of products from the Bacchus Marsh Farm Supplies by obtaining credit card details from his mobile telephone.
Davis and Godwin were arrested on Wednesday after Ararat Crime Investigation Unit detectives and Ararat Tasking Unit members executed a search warrant at a King Street address.
During the search warrant, police allegedly located items including drugs, counterfeit cash, ammunition and a device allegedly used to skim credit cards.
The court was told a large number of clothing was allegedly located at the property, including 12 pairs of high-end shoes in boxes and with tags attached.
Police opposed Davis and Godwin’s applications for bail due to their show-cause situation and an unacceptable risk of re-offending.
Davis, who represented himself during his bail application, said he was seeking help for rehabilitation and he needed to help his pregnant partner, Godwin.
Godwin’s defence lawyer Ron Davis said his client appeared to be a secondary offender to the allegations and there would be some time before the matters were finalised.
Magistrate Gregory Robinson said Godwin had been sentenced to a community corrections order in the County Court on August 14 for an armed robbery.
“It appears the community corrections order has not deterred her from her drug addiction,” Mr Robinson said.
“I take into account she is pregnant but given the concern she is using drugs, I consider a risk to her unborn child … I consider the unborn child a member of the community.”
Mr Robinson refused bail for Davis and Godwin, noting the pair did not show cause and were an unacceptable risk of reoffending and a danger to the community.
Davis will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on January 19, while Godwin will appear on March 15.
The couple face 10 offences, including trafficking drug of dependence (methamphetamine), possessing a drug of dependence (methamphetamine), possessing drug of dependence (ecstasy), obtaining property by deception and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
