Judge describes woman’s online actions as a ‘scam’
Portlaoise Courthouse
A WOMAN who received money for items she advertised online but never sent the items to the buyers was back in court last week, where her actions were described by the judge as a scam.
Louise Ward from Clonad, Portlaoise had previously admitted to three offences under Section 6 of the Theft and Fraud Act relating to advertisements she placed on Adverts.ie for the sale of slippers, bags, a Dyson Airwrap and a hairdryer. The buyers were from Leopardstown, Dublin on 1 December 2021, Roundwood, Wicklow on 19 October 2022 and Dingle, Kerry on 26 February 2022.
The court heard that the defendant had received €130 for handbags and shoes, €161 for the Dyson Airwrap and €380 for a hairdryer, but none of the items were sent to the buyers.
Following complaints, Adverts.ie removed the seller from the site and gardaí identified Ms Ward through her account, who, when arrested, made full admissions.
Last week at Portlaoise District Court, garda sgt JJ Kirby told Judge Andrew Cody that the defendant had 14 previous convictions.
Defending solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said that her client had paid back the full compensation.
“She was offering items for sale and not really selling them. It was a scam. The first offence was over four years ago. She was deceiving people on Adverts.ie. It was a bit like Lanigan’s Ball, in and out of court, and it took three bench warrants. She engaged sporadically with the probation service and had a lack of awareness for her victims,” said Judge Cody.
He went on to convict Ms Ward on all three charges and imposed four-month sentences on each, to run consecutively suspended for three years.
