Australian runner Eliza Stewart charged with laundering stolen Lego on Facebook Marketplace

A former cross-country runner-turned-double amputee has reportedly made more than $100,000 selling stolen items including Lego, electronics, clothing and designer sunglasses on Facebook Marketplace, a court has heard.

Eliza Jane Stewart, 35, has been charged with a range of offenses and spent a night in detention after police searched her home in Canterbury, south-west Sydney on Wednesday.

She was charged with knowingly handling the proceeds of crime, knowingly handling the proceeds of crime to conceal it and being armed with intent to steal.

The Parramatta Bail Court heard police allegedly uncovered a trove of stolen goods throughout her home, including more than 150 Lego sets, 33 Google Chromecast devices, nine pairs of designer sunglasses and 50 items of clothing, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Police allege property seized from Stewart’s home was worth more than $28,000 and was stolen from retail outlets in south-west Sydney.

Photos from the Raid showrooms stacked high with crates full of items including dozens of Harry Potter, Disney and Star Wars Lego sets.

Police also claim they seized devices used to remove security tags.

The court heard that Stewart allegedly admitted to police that she used her handicap scooter to steal thousands of dollars’ worth of items from department stores.

Both her legs were amputated due to the lingering effects of anorexia, which she has struggled with for 20 years.

Stewart also reportedly admitted to promoting the items for sale as “brand new” on social media before depositing the payments into her accounts.

The court also heard that Stewart reportedly had $250,000 in her accounts when she was arrested, but could not tell police how much stemmed from her alleged activities.

Police will claim Stewart made $70,000 from online sales this year alone, according to bank account transactions.

“A physical examination of the transactions in the defendant’s Commonwealth Bank accounts revealed that most of the funds were believed to have been obtained illegally,” the court documents said.

“A significant portion of the transactions come from payments made to her account for purchases related to stolen items.

“These transactions are flagged and commented on in transaction history, typically LEGO, Google Chrome, Google Home Mini.”

The court also heard Stewart had access to her bank accounts, which were frozen by the NSW Crime Commission.

Her lawyer told the court that his client is due to have a second prosthetic leg repaired on Friday and will need eye surgery in the near future.

Stewart was released on bail Thursday.

She can only leave her home if she is accompanied by her father or her NDIS supervisor and cannot use social media to sell goods online.

Stewart will appear in court again in November.

Her arrest came after an extensive investigation by officers from Police Transport Command South West’s Proactive Crime Team

Stewart is a former marathon runner who represented Australia at the 2008 and 2010 World University Cross-Country Championships.

She finished fourth in 2008, which at the time was the best performance by an Australian at the event.

She was also a past women’s champion at the Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon.

“I have fought many adversities to get to where I am today, and while my resume may be flawed, I know I bring an immeasurable amount of insight and understanding to humanity’s need for connection and validation,” according to her LinkedIn bio.

Stewart also recently opened up about her health struggles on social media.

“I would like to share some insights into the struggles faced by people living with a disability, particularly when the NDIS does not support you; It’s honestly a trying, lonely existence…one I wouldn’t wish on anyone,” she wrote.