Former personal trainer Madeleine Campbell turned heroin addict admits to stealing to fund habit

Personal trainer becomes a heroin addict after the death of her father before going on a crime spree on Christmas Day to fund her habit

  • Madeleine Campbell pleaded guilty to 30 charges including theft on Tuesday
  • She went on a year long crime spree from October, 2019 to November, 2020
  • Campbell and co-accused stole $1,000 worth of children’s Christmas gifts 
  • Court heard Campbell had turned to heroin in 2016 after the death of her father 

A glamorous personal trainer spiralled into a heroin addiction following the death of her father before going on a year long crime spree, a court heard.

Madeleine Campbell, 32, from affluent Melbourne suburb Hampton, admitted to stealing credit cards, gifts, handbags, clothes, taxi fares and IDs between October 2019 and November last year.

On Christmas Day in 2019, the gym junkie along with her co-accused stole $1,000 worth of children’s gifts from a parked car in a suburban street, including phones and a speaker.

Just hours later, they stole the driver’s credit card and bought more gifts and cigarettes from local petrol stations.

Campbell pleaded guilty to 30 charges including theft and possessing cannabis while at the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, the Herald Sun reported.

Madeleine Campbell, 32, pleaded guilty to 30 charges including theft on Tuesday after going on a lengthy crime spree from October 2019 to November last year

After the death of her father, Campbell became dependent on heroin and benzodiazepines in 2016, the court heard.

On one occasion in 2019, the 32-year-old went on another stealing rampage in Chadstone, using stolen credit cards to make fraudulent orders.

When police raided Campbell’s home in January last year, they found car keys, designer sunglasses and several loyalty cards.

During another search in May, the former personal trainer tossed multiple IDs and medicare cards out her window.

After the death of her father, Campbell became dependent on heroin and benzodiazepines in 2016

After the death of her father, Campbell became dependent on heroin and benzodiazepines in 2016

On Christmas Day in 2019, the gym junkie along with her co-accused stole $1,000 worth of children's gifts from a parked car in a suburban street, including phones and a speaker

On Christmas Day in 2019, the gym junkie along with her co-accused stole $1,000 worth of children’s gifts from a parked car in a suburban street, including phones and a speaker

While on bail last year, Campbell stole a woman’s handbag and ran from a taxi after it dropped her to the police station as part of her bail condition.

She has spent 65 days in detention at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre where the court heard she has been keeping active and teaching other inmates exercises.

Her lawyer said she was determined to find a job upon her release.

‘It’s a complicated matrix of drug abuse and committing offences to feed drug habit,’ Campbell’s lawyer said.

The former personal trainer will appear in court again for sentencing on February 3. 

The 32-year-old has spent 65 days in detention at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre where the court heard she has been keeping active and teaching other inmates exercises

The 32-year-old has spent 65 days in detention at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre where the court heard she has been keeping active and teaching other inmates exercises

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