A man has faced court for using a credit card to purchase items online after he and a friend found a woman's purse in a car park outside a laundromat in Sebastopol.
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Ricky Hutchison, 22, pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain property by deception at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Monday.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Clint Prebble said Hutchison and a co-offender found a purse in the carpark.
The court heard Hutchison used one of the cards to purchase shoes, a hoodie and a t-shirt totalling $349 online and entered his personal details for the purchase.
The victim reported the activity on her bank account to police.
To lose your purse and find out someone has used your cards is frightening, upsetting and concerning for the person involved.
- Magistrate Letizia Torres
Hutchison made admissions to using the card.
The court heard the co-offender scattered the purse and cards into a creek after using them.
A defence lawyer said Hutchison was drinking at the time he used the victim's card.
She said he never received the items as the transaction was cancelled shortly after.
She said it was 'clearly not sophisticated' offending as he entered his personal information to make the transaction.
The court heard Hutchison did have prior criminal convictions but had not appeared at court for three years.
Magistrate Letizia Torres said it was important Hutchison stayed on the right track as he was not a newcomer to the courts.
"To lose your purse and find out someone has used your cards is frightening, upsetting and concerning for the person involved," she said.
Hutchison was convicted fined $400.
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