A YOUNG man who conned an 82-year-old woman out of most of her life savings by pretending to fix her roof has been given two months to raise compensation.
Vladimir Turculet (19) went to the woman’s door and told her she needed her roof fixed or it would collapse.
Over the next two weeks he returned repeatedly saying he needed more money for supplies. She handed over a total of €11,750 and no work was ever carried out on the roof.
Turculet, of Coolaghknock Avenue, Kildare, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing six cheques from the woman between October 20th and November 2nd, 2010, at her Sandymount home.
“This is a very complicated case,” defence counsel John Berry told Judge Patricia Ryan.
“No it isn’t,” the judge replied. “I want €11,750 in court.”
Counsel said the stolen money was “gone” and his client has no assets he could sell. When he said his family may be able to raise some compensation, Judge Ryan adjourned the matter until July.
“I want €11,750 and then I’ll consider the matter,” she told counsel. “This is a very, very serious matter.”
Garda Shane Griffin told prosecuting counsel Pieter Le Vert the woman had worked in Guinness all her life and had €16,000 in a savings account for emergencies.
Turculet came here with his parents in 2006 and went to secondary school in Kildare, where he sat his Leaving Certificate.