Annabel Walker pleads guilty to rental scam and spending friend’s cash

A socialite turned fraudster has admitted to more dodgy dealings, after swindling a man on Gumtree and using a mate’s card to splurge on the finer things in life.

Annabel Walker, 32, a well-known Southern Highlands socialite appeared from a jail cell at Moss Vale Local Court on Tuesday, after admitting to 11 charges of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage or causing disadvantage by deception.

The usually glamorous it-girl was jailed last year over a raft of charges including multiple counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception relating to when she worked at Aust. Leisure Group.

Walker again faced court on separate charges on Tuesday, where details of her dodgy rental swindle and credit card fraud were aired.

In documents tendered to the court, it was revealed in November 2019, Walker put a unit she was renting up for lease on Gumtree, advertising it as a short-term stay.

She agreed to lease the apartment to a man for 10 days from November 12, 2019, to November 22, 2019. She did not mention that she had already signed an agreement with another man to rent the apartment to him from November 17 to December 15.

Annabel Walker has pleaded guilty to defrauding others to fund her lifestyle. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Walker messaged the victim on the day before he was due to move in to tell him that he wouldn’t be able to collect the keys because she needed to fix a gas pipe problem. That evening she sent a screenshot to the victim of a bank transfer of $850 entitled “Rental Refund” sent to the victim’s bank account, but the victim never received the money.

After weeks of promising to pay, Walker cut off communication with the victim and he notified the police two days later of her refusal to repay his $850 deposit.

She also pleaded guilty to ten charges relating to a $4500 spending spree on her friend’s credit card.

After befriending the woman, Walker used her credit card details to treat herself to over $1500 of luxury booze and used her own name, phone number, and email address to confirm the orders.

She also spent nearly $600 on bikinis and hundreds on getting her makeup and hair done.

Annabel Walker leaving court after a previous conviction. Picture: Jeremy Piper

When the victim cancelled both of her credit cards, court documents revealed Walker offered to come over and cook her dinner. The next day there were fraudulent charges on her new card.

Two business class one-way tickets from Sydney to Melbourne had been bought on Webjet for $1341 using Annabel Walker’s name and email address.

The former Frensham girl appeared in Moss Vale Court via video link, as she is currently serving a sentence of 12 months in jail for a range of fraud and deception charges.

She will reappear in court on March 16 for sentencing.