A woman accused of defrauding $62,000 was not the mastermind behind the offence Goulburn Court has heard.
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Ricquelle Marston-McKnight, 24, of Strathallan Crescent, Goulburn, was before Goulburn Local Court on January 27.
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She pleaded guilty to one charge of assault occasioning bodily harm, one charge of common assault, and one charge of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.
Solicitor Tracey Annan said her client had a "tumultuous upbringing" where she was exposed to drugs and alcohol. She said Marston-McKnight had mental health problems and unresolved medical issues.
Ms Annan said the dishonesty charge occurred in 2018 after Marston-McKnight left a violent relationship and "around the same time her mother died".
Ms Annan presented to the court "pages and pages of communication" between her client and a man she said was the "mastermind" behind the scheme. She said Marston-McKnight had become involved when she found a job online.
She said her client received payment, transferred into her bank account, on the man's behalf and she eventually started to question what was going on.
"She realised it was too good to be true and she shouldn't have done it.
"She never imagined she'd be in this position."
Ms Annan said her client had taken numerous steps to make positive change and had found legitimate employment. She said the assault charges were related to "a long ongoing dispute with a neighbour who used to be a friend".
Magistrate Geraldine Beattie said Marston-McKnight was accused of defrauding $62,000.
She said police facts tendered to the court made reference to Marston-McKnight receiving 10 per cent of all money transferred into her bank accounts.
"A stranger contacted her and she gave him her personal details," Magistrate Beattie said.
"Police facts referred to debit transactions and multiple bank accounts."
Ms Annan said payment increased over time because her client was "starting to ask questions".
"We are not trying to say she was oblivious the entire time but she was not the mastermind."
Ms Annan requested an adjournment for police to make further enquiries about the man.
Magistrate Beattie adjourned the case to February 17 for sentencing.
