Courts / Dublin / Report

Father-of-three sold car he bought on hire-purchase

Date
2017-01-30

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Giovanni Lanelli, 39, sold a Ford Focus he had bought on hire purchase for €17,000 to a buyer who paid €13,800 at a Dublin hotel. Lanelli did not disclose that the car was still financed and that monthly payments were due. He later claimed he intended to continue paying but could not keep up. A year later the finance company warned the buyer that the car would be repossessed if the balance was not paid. Lanelli promised to obtain a loan to clear the balance but failed to raise the funds. The buyer settled with the finance company, paying over €12,800 to keep the car. Lanelli pleaded guilty to theft and fraud at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 22 August 2014. He has no prior convictions.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Father-of-three sold car he bought on hire-purchase. Charges or matters: theft and fraud at Maldron Hotel, Dublin Airport on August 22, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

August 22, 2014 Adjournment
October 9 Adjournment
May 2014 Adjournment
2017-01-30 Publication

Why: He told gardaí during interview that he hadn't defrauded the man because he said he had made no effort to hide his true identity. CNI source report