Dad used fake ID in bid to cash €3k cheque

Leonid Toader (33) was jailed for four months for fraud after he was caught with an identification card that was produced by another Romanian man he met in Dublin city centre.

Dublin District Court heard the cheque was for €3,000 and he had been promised €250 by the man in return for cashing it

Toader, of North Circular Road, pleaded guilty to a charge of using a false instrument under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act at AIB, Sandymount Road on November 9 last.

The court heard the accused went to the bank, handed over the altered cheque that was made out by a scrap merchant and used a false ID to attempt to cash it.

Judge Ann Watkin remarked that the card could only have been made with special equipment and in conspiracy with others.

Calculated

"This is obviously a very serious effort, a very calculated operation," the judge remarked.

Toader had made admissions when interviewed by gardai, but had not identified the man who gave him the card. The court heard he was still not prepared to do so.

Toader came to Ireland six years ago after his partner, with whom he had a child, left him for another man. He had been upset and though he was a builder by trade he had not worked for some years and had been drinking.

He now hoped to get back to work, his lawyer said. He was also volunteering with the Irish Cancer Society.

The court heard Toader had previous theft and fraud convictions and had been given suspended sentences. He was on a bond to keep the peace at the time of the latest offence.

"This is what amounts to supporting serious enough gang crime," Judge Watkin said. "The card was manufactured specifically for him."

She said she had no option but to send the accused to prison.

aphelan@herald.ie