A NSW woman who pleaded guilty to dozens of fraud charges and has been on the run since she skipped rehabilitation two years ago is behind bars in the ACT.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Delphine Maree Charles, 35, was extradited from Wagga Wagga and brought before the ACT Magistrates Court, where prosecutors opposed her bid for bail, on Wednesday.
The court heard Charles was bailed to attend Benelong's Haven drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in May 2015.
But she fled the centre after a few days and a warrant was issued for her arrest when she failed to return to court for sentencing on more than 40 fraud charges in August of that year.
She went on to commit more offences in NSW and was jailed. She was released from custody in June.
Court documents said Charles fled from police, telling them they couldn't arrest her on an interstate warrant, when they showed up at her Narrandera home on Tuesday.
She was arrested and faced Wagga Wagga Local Court, where ACT Policing officers applied for her extradition to the Canberra court.
Her Aboriginal Legal Service lawyer told the court Charles, who had seven children, was getting her life back on track and had secured public housing.
She noted the age of the offences before the court and said Charles was committed to returning to finalise the matters.
"This is a young woman who is turning things around."
Prosecutor Morgan Howe said the only reason the charges had aged was because Charles absconded from the rehabilitation centre.
He said her history of failing to show up at court and her decision to flee police on Tuesday could give the court little confidence she would return to "face her fate" if released.
Magistrate Robert Cook refused bail. The case returns to court at a later date.
