A 20-year-old woman who bought various items with a stolen bank card last year has been granted a spent conviction.
The woman faced Bunbury Magistrates Court on April 2, and pleaded guilty to three counts of gaining benefits via fraud and one of stealing.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Karl Rep told the court that the victim had driven the woman home on July 27, 2019.
A few days later, she used the victim's bank card to purchase $30 worth of phone credit, $72.94 worth of alcohol, and $99 worth of pizza.
Defence counsel Derek Hunter said his client had admitted to the offences at an early opportunity.
According to Mr Hunter, the woman began using cannabis in high school before moving out of home and turning to methamphetamine.
The woman, seeking to "get her life back on track", started a 12-month rehabilitation program in December last year.
Mr Hunter said she would like to complete the remaining nine months.
"She is a young woman with her whole life ahead of her," the defence noted.
Magistrate Linda Keane acknowledged that the woman had been "used and abused by those around her at the time of the offending".
Ms Keane also congratulated the 20-year-old on her efforts in the rehabilitation program.
The magistrate said it was "always sad and tragic to hear of young people using drugs".
Along with the spent conviction, the woman received a six-month community based order with program and supervision requirements.
