Avzi Ejupi: Serial thief splurges granny’s cash on lotto, cigs, booze

A South East Queensland court has heard a serial thief and druggie used an elderly woman’s credit card to spend up big on booze, ciggies and lotto tickets.

A heroin and meth addict who splurged more than $600 on lotto tickets, alcohol and cigarettes after stealing an 81-year-old woman’s credit card has been denounced for his “callous, nasty and selfish” offending.

Avzi Ejupi, 48, pleaded guilty to eight counts of fraud and one count of stealing during a videolink at Cleveland Magistrates Court on Thursday (November 25) .

The court heard Ejupi was captured on CCTV on July 29 stealing the woman’s handbag as she was paying for goods at a Victoria Point Woolworths supermarket.

He then used it to spend $636.86 in eight fraudulent transactions, all under $100, at various local stores.

Magistrate Deborah Vasta, who said none of the items were essential goods, denounced his offending as “callous, nasty and selfish”.

Serial thief and drug addict Avzi Ejupi, 48.

The victim was especially upset as her bag contained keys, her driver’s licence and other important personal material.

The court heard Ejupi was given a three-year head sentence on November 6, with a parole release date of April 30 next year, for similar dishonesty offending and violence.

His solicitor said Ejupi suffered from a significant heroin and meth addiction and carried the scars of a deeply traumatic youth.

He also had a 20-year gap in offending in Queensland, however the police prosecutor said he had a criminal record in NSW.

Ms Vasta said that had the offences been dealt with at his November 6 hearing, Ejupi would not have received extra punishment.

She sentenced him to six months’ jail to be served concurrently with the three-year head sentence.

He was further ordered to pay his victim $636.86 compensation.