Norlane woman Charmaine Elston continues to fight allegations she stole from elderly man

Police have told a court that a Norlane woman who allegedly stole from a 65-year-old man specifically “targets” Geelong’s elderly residents.

Charmaine Elston has raised a “messy” defence around her alleged involvement in the theft from a 65-year-old man.

A Norlane woman accused of distracting elderly victims to steal from them claims she has three alibis she is struggling to contact.

Charmaine Elston 36, is accused of entering a 65-year-old man’s Norlane unit under the pretence of being his carer, before allegedly stealing a wallet, cash and bank cards

Ms Elston, who was captured on CCTV arriving at the block of units, admitted to being at the unit but told a court she was visiting a different person.

Charmaine Elston allegedly stole cash and bank cards from a 65-year-old man earlier this year. Picture: Facebook.

Ms Elston rejected a jail term following a sentence indication last month and instead opted to fight one charge of trespass and theft.

She appeared before the Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday where she claimed she had potential alibis.

But lawyer Matilda Jones said she the accused was “struggling to contact these three people” and had asked the court for more time.

Ms Elston has also claimed she was not the person who the 65-year-old man later described to police.

Magistrate Peter Mellas said there were “significant issues”.

“She says she can’t be identified as the person there and she raises an alibi but it all starts to get messy, doesn’t it?”

Police submitted Ms Elston allegedly used the bank cards from the wallet to make several payments, but Ms Jones said there was “no evidence to tie her to the transactions”.

Police added Ms Elston’s “MO” is to allegedly “befriend elderly people, have conversations with them and steal their items”.

“She targets a specific age group,” the prosecutor said.

The court also heard Ms Elston allegedly approached a man around the same time in a laundromat and distracted him while she stole his wallet, containing bank cards, from the front of his backpack.

Ms Elston has flagged she intends to plead guilty to this offence.

She will return to court in January next year for a hearing.

Originally published as Norlane woman Charmaine Elston continues to fight allegations she stole from elderly man