Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 9088Gain by deception (fraud) · Co. Laois · 11 May 2020

Man pleads guilty to deception over undelivered iPhone payment, Portlaoise court

On 11 May 2020 a €180 payment was made for an iPhone 7 Plus at Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Laois, and the phone was never delivered to the buyer, a man. Gardaí were notified after the buyer transferred the money through his AIB account in response to an Adverts.ie advert. Karl Cox, a 24-year-old man, pleaded guilty to gain by deception before Portlaoise District Court. A court report published on 13 June 2026 said the judge imposed 40 hours of community service in lieu of two months in prison.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced13 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Karl Cox pleaded guilty to gain by deception over a €180 payment for an iPhone 7 Plus.
  • The buyer did not receive the phone.
Where
The incident took place at Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Laois.
When
The incident took place on 11 May 2020.
Investigation
  • Gardaí were notified that a man had transferred €180 through his AIB account after responding to an Adverts.ie advert.
  • Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby gave evidence of the Garda notification in court.
Charges
The offence was gain by deception (fraud).
In court
Karl Cox appeared before Portlaoise District Court.
Sentence
The judge imposed 40 hours of community service in lieu of two months in prison.
Other details
  • Karl Cox is 24 years old.
  • The solicitor said the offence occurred six years earlier while his client was in the throes of addiction.
  • The solicitor said Karl Cox had since completed the Leaving Cert, overcome his addiction and was working as a crane driver.
  • Karl Cox had €180 with him in court.
  • The court report was published on 13 June 2026 by Leinster Express.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatKarl Cox pleaded guilty to making gain by deception in relation to a payment of €180 for an iPhone 7 Plus. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe buyer did not receive the phone. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on 11 May 2020. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí were notified that a man had transferred €180 through his AIB account after responding to an advert. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe accused appeared before Portlaoise District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed 40 hours of community service in lieu of two months in prison. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe solicitor said the incident occurred six years earlier while his client was in the throes of addiction. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe solicitor said the man had since completed the Leaving Cert, overcome his addiction and was working as a crane driver. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe man had €180 with him in court. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Jun2026
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Man before Laois court took payment for iPhone which was never delivered

    Court report published 13 June 2026 on the guilty plea and sentence for an incident dated 11 May 2020 at Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise. No existing case in the list matches.

    convicted, Karl Cox, 24, male, named, irish (judged from name)Karl Cox