Samantha Azzopardi further remanded at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court over deception charges

A serial fantasist accused of obtaining $18k by claiming to be from Europe and in need of support services is in Covid isolation in prison.

Samantha Azzopardi has been remanded to face Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on February 9, 2024.

A serial fantasist has faced court again over her latest alleged offending, where she is accused of obtaining $18k by claiming to be from Europe and in need of support services.

Samantha Azzopardi faced Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Friday via video link where it was revealed she is in Covid isolation, which has prevented her from being served an interim intervention order.

Azzopardi was arrested on High St, Northcote, on October 10 and charged with obtaining financial advantage by deception.

The court heard she is now facing 14 charges including multiple obtaining financial advantage by deception or property by deception charges and various other charges.

According to court documents, Azzopardi is accused of dishonestly obtaining for herself a financial advantage of $18,837 by deception, namely portraying herself as being from Europe and in need of support services and obtaining accommodation, vouchers and medical costs from support services.

The court heard two of the charges Azzopardi was facing related to alleged offending in Reservoir but the bulk of the charges were from Malvern, making Moorabbin Magistrates' Court the best venue for her next hearing.

The charges also relate to alleged offending in Dandenong and Melbourne.

Magistrate Jennifer Tregent noted during the hearing that Azzopardi was out of camera during the online link but could see she was present, so continued with the brief hearing.

Azzopardi kept her head down and was mainly out of sight.

At a court hearing last month, Magistrate Cathy Lamble also granted an application for an interim intervention order to be served on Azzopardi, with conditions including preventing the stalking of a protected person, prohibiting her from attempting to locate the person, and banning her from contacting or communicating with them.

During Friday’s hearing Ms Tregent further remanded Azzopardi to appear at a contest mention hearing at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on February 9 next year.

In relation to the personal safety intervention order matter, Ms Tregent said that would be extended and followed along with the criminal matters.

Azzopardi’s lawyer Rose George asked that the intervention order matter be adjourned and said she understood it was yet to be served on her client in custody.

Ms Tregent said there was an interim order in place and understood Azzopardi was in Covid isolation.

“There is an interim (order) in place … and I understand (Azzopardi) is in Covid isolation so we will just wait for that to be served.”

Azzopardi first came to police attention 16 years ago.

Over the years, she has had more than 40 aliases, posing as a nanny, nurse and even American actress Dakota Johnson and the daughter of Princess Madeleine of Sweden.

She also once pretended to be a talent scout called Coco, promising to help a Melbourne couple’s daughter land a role on the Australian version of the hit US TV show ‘Punk’d’.