AN ORPINGTON woman who flogged non-existent iPads and fled from a petrol station without paying has appeared in court.

Poppy Eastwood, aged 22, of Lovibonds Avenue, was in Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Friday (Jan 31) where she pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and one count of theft.

In June last year Eastwood dishonestly advertised two iPads for £270 and £300, having earlier made off without paying for petrol at the Texaco service station in Farnborough on May 25.

Prosecutor Leena Verma said: "The victim paid the money by bank transfer for the iPad advertised on June 20 and when the iPad did not arrive, she contacted the defendant who said she would transfer the money back. This did not happen."

Nigel Riley, mitigating, said: "She suffers from bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression for which she is due to have Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

"She is a vulnerable young woman who has clearly suffered in an abusive relationship." 

District judge Michael Fanning said: "You have pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. It seems to me a community sentence is the most likely but I might not be the person dealing with this next time."

The case has been adjourned for pre-sentencing reports. Eastwood, who was visibly emotional as she left the dock, will appear again at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on February 21.

She had previously been staying at her mother’s address in Rhododendron Avenue, Meopham.

A Facebook group called Scammed by Poppy Eastwood has more than 2,300 members.