BY: Fiona Audley
Two men have been sentenced for an online car-buying scam that involved taking vehicles from unsuspecting victims without making payments. Thomas Roberts, 30, and 25-year-old Shane McDonagh, both from Staines in Wraysbury, England, were convicted of seven counts of fraud and possession of criminal assets at Belfast Crown Court.
In addition to the fraud charges, Roberts was separately convicted for driving without insurance, while McDonagh faced charges for possessing a Class C controlled drug.
The court heard that between February and October 2022, the pair orchestrated a scam in which they purchased seven vehicles from sellers across Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, Armagh, and Newry. They would arrange to meet the sellers, take the cars for test drives, and agree on a price to be paid through a fake online banking app. However, the sellers never received any payment, despite handing over their vehicles.
Detective Sergeant Cargin of the PSNI noted, “An extensive investigation began after the suspects fraudulently purchased seven vehicles through classified ads on a website. After taking the vehicles for test drives, they showed a fake banking app that appeared to confirm the transfer of funds. Unfortunately, the money never arrived, and contact was lost.”
Of the seven stolen vehicles, three were later recovered, but only one was in a usable condition. The pair was arrested on May 15 as they disembarked the Birkenhead to Belfast Ferry and were subsequently charged.
On July 3, they received a combined sentence of 40 months for all offenses, with 20 months to be served in prison and the remainder on license. Detective Sergeant Cargin emphasized the seriousness of their fraudulent activities and the commitment of law enforcement to disrupt such illegal schemes.