Samantha Azzopardi convicted of fraud in Brisbane but described as 'lovely girl with issues' by ex-boss An Australian woman found in Dublin will be cared for by medics as she has a history of psychiatric issues. THE Australian woman who sparked a major international investigation when she was found wandering the streets of Ireland has convictions in Queensland relating to false representations and forgery. Samantha Azzopardi, 25, was convicted in the Brisbane Magistrates Court in 2010 on two charges of making false representations, one charge of possession of a thing with intent to forge documents and one charge of contravening directions. She was fined $500, to be paid if she reoffended in the following 12 months. Azzopardi was convicted the following month of four separate charges relating to false representations and given the same penalty. It is understood she was last year convicted interstate for defrauding or deceiving to obtain welfare payments and sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. The Courier-Mail confirmed Azzopardi's convictions span multiple states. In June last year she pleaded guilty in Perth Magistrates Court to three counts of opening an account with a cash dealer in a false name, one count of inducing a person to act and three counts of intent to defraud by deceit. She was sentenced on October 2 last year to six months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. The revelations come as a complex picture emerges of her. A former boss described her as "a lovely girl who had issues," while revelations of forgery convictions tell a more disturbing story. Chris Nunes, the manager of a restaurant in southwest Sydney said she recognised Samantha Azzopardi's face on the television when Irish police released pictures of the 25-year-old as part of a global search to identify her. Ms Nunes said she messaged her sister to say "Oh my God, it's Sammy." She used to work here for us. I saw (the photo of her) last night and then this morning I heard them say her name and I was like 'oh my god it is her'," Ms Nunes said. Ms Azzopardi, who had relatives living in Sydney, was hired to work in the restaurant two years ago. She worked there for four or five months. I knew that she had some issues, that's why we let her go. Police image of Samantha Azzopardi. She was a lovely girl. There was nothing I could say that she was a horrible person or anything, that's why I gave her the opportunity. When she left here she said she was going to travel overseas. BACKGROUND: The mystery of Samantha Azzopardi Samantha was found wandering along and confused outside Dublin's GPO on October 10. Initially Irish police thought she was an Eastern European teenage sex slave. She was virtually unable to communicate. A source told the Irish Independent that Assopardi was "fretful of any engagement with officialdom" and "extremely nervous" around anyone in a uniform." The 25-year-old woman was eventually identified following an unprecedented move by Irish police to publish a photograph of a person in State care. The breakthrough came just hours after the release of the photograph when a man, who is not believed to be a relative, called police to let them know that their mystery girl had family in Tipperary, the Irish Independent reported. It was later revealed that Azzopardi had already been arrested for welfare fraud. The Independent newspaper in Ireland reported Azzopardi had received a suspended prison sentence for illegally attempting to draw social welfare benefits she was not entitled to. She was sentenced to six months prison late last year, but it was suspended for a 12-month term. A Queensland Police spokesperson said they were not in a position to confirm whether Samantha Azzopardi was from Queensland as the investigation was in the hands of the AFP. She said the woman had not been reported missing in Queensland, to her knowledge. It is understood Azzopardi originated from Campbelltown, New South Wales, was known to Australian Police, had a history of mental health issues, and is believed to have used up to 40 aliases. It is now understood that Azzopardi entered Ireland three weeks ago via the UK in order to live with relatives. She is believed to have been staying in the Irish Midlands town of Clonmel in County Tipperary, over 170km away from Dublin. There has been no mention or comment about or from the household she stayed at in Clonmel, and quite how she came to be in Dublin, reportedly distressed and disoriented remains at best unclear. The Irish Mirror reported that the womans parents were flying to Ireland to see their daughter - and stated that there was no clear record of how Azzopardi had entered the country. She remains in the care of the HSE who describe her as "vulnerable" and say she would be at serious risk if left at large.