Two former soldiers from Romania received suspended prison sentences at Dublin District Court yesterday for a payphone fraud operation carried out across seven counties. Claudiu Vancea Ouidiu (21), of Temple Court, and Soran Dumitrescu (26), of Dominick Street, both Dublin, pleaded guilty to 23 sample charges each of criminal damage to payphones with intent to defraud between July 5th and 26th.
They also admitted possessing a toothpick, sandpaper, sponge and metal rod with intent to commit larceny in Portlaoise on July 26th.
Det Garda Tom Jones told Judge William Earley that the two men blocked off payphones in towns including Drogheda, Navan, Tullamore, Mullingar, Portlaoise, Naas, Newbridge, Cashel, Thurles and Nenagh.
They would immobilise the phone by plugging one of the digits and use sandpaper to obscure the digital display which would have warned customers the phone was out of order. The refund chute was then blocked off with the sponge and a flexible metal rod was used to retrieve money later.
The men were found with £200 when arrested and made a statement admitting causing criminal damage totalling £7,780 to 106 phones.
Det Garda Jones said the DPP had directed the case be heard in the District Court on 23 sample charges which involved criminal damage totalling £1,680.
Ms Jenny McKeever, defending, said the men had sought asylum in Ireland but because of the offences they would now face difficulties in their applications.
Judge Earley imposed sentences of three months' imprisonment suspended for three years on one charge and remanded them on bail to February 10th for a probation report.