Marie Robinson, faces court after illegally obtaining Nurofen Plus on more than 40 occasions

A Geelong woman who obtainined medication containing codeine while using false identification has faced court.

A Norlane woman who fuelled her Nurofen Plus addiction by using a stolen Medicare card has faced the Geelong Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Marie Robinson pleaded guilty to attending various clinics across the Geelong and Werribee area to obtain the medication containing codeine, while falsely identifying as a woman known to her.

The court heard that the victim visited Ms Robinson’s house prior to the offending and had accidentally left her purse containing the Medicare card.

The accused at the time denied knowing where the purse was.

Ms Robinson began offending in October 2018, where she attended up to 12 clinics in one month.

A packet of Nurofen Plus. Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

The offending continued until October 2019 and included 48 incidents, which Ms Robinson made full admissions to police.

At one Wyndham clinic, Ms Robinson opened up an account under the victims name and attended the premises on 20 occasions, gaining over $800 worth of the medication.

Defence lawyer John Cattanach told the court his client had become addicted to the prescription medication during a time where she had been a victim in a violent relationship.

He said the medication had been used to treat her injuries at the time before escalating into an addiction.

Ms Robinson had been sober for a year prior to the offending but had relapsed following a family matter.

Mr Cattanach told the court his client has now been sober for two years.

“She has overcome addiction and she has stable accommodation with her daughters including a 17 year old who just had a baby and has postnatal depression,” he said.

“She has family and supports around her.”

Magistrate Ann McGarvie said a Community Corrections Order (CCO) with conviction would reflect the seriousness of the offending.

“She is not engaged in counselling yet but she needs to work on strategies for if and when she goes back to drugs,” she said.

“There needs to be an element of punishment.”

The case has been stood down pending CCO assessment. 

Originally published as Marie Robinson, faces court after illegally obtaining Nurofen Plus on more than 40 occasions