Sunday 1 November 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. 6964Handling stolen property; deception; possession of an article for use in theft · Co. Dublin · 5 Mar 2020

Man sentenced to five years over stolen car offences in Dublin

Constantine Asimionesei, a 33-year-old man, was arrested in Rathcoole, Co Dublin, in March 2020 after being caught in a stolen vehicle, and was accused of stealing a Kia Niro worth €30,000, handling other stolen cars and parts, and possessing an electronic relay device. He left Ireland 12 days after his initial arrest and was extradited from Romania in February 2023 to face 15 charges under the Theft & Fraud Act. He appeared before Dublin District Court in February 2023, where the DPP directed a Circuit Court trial and he was remanded in custody with consent to bail. In December 2023, he was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended, with Gardaí linking him to a gang responsible for 64 vehicle thefts worth about €1.6m.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court25 Feb
    2 reports
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced8 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Asimionesei was accused of stealing a 2019-registered Kia Niro worth €30,000, handling another stolen car valued at €15,000, handling stolen car airbags, engines, doors, seats and other parts, and two counts of deception over the sale of two cars for €35,000.
Where
The offences occurred at locations in Co Dublin and Co Meath in 2019 and 2020, and the relay device was found at his residence in Eaton Drive, Rathcoole, Co Dublin.
When
He was arrested in the early hours of 5 March 2020, left Ireland 12 days later, and was extradited from Romania on 24 February 2023.
Cause
He was caught in a stolen vehicle in the Rathcoole area of West Dublin.
Weapon
An electronic relay device and a Dell rucksack were found at his residence in Rathcoole.
Investigation
The case was investigated by the Garda Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigating Unit, and a European Arrest Warrant was obtained to bring him back to Ireland.
Charges
He faced 15 charges under the Theft & Fraud Act, including handling stolen property, deception, and possession of an article for use in theft.
In court
He appeared before Dublin District Court on 25 February 2023 before Judge Bryan Smyth, where the DPP directed a Circuit Court trial and he was remanded in custody with consent to bail.
Sentence
He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended, though one article reported the sentence as three and a half years.
Other details
  • Gardaí linked Asimionesei to a gang that stole 64 vehicles worth about €1.6m from 2017 to 2020 and believed he was the leader of the group.
  • He had lived in Ireland since he was nine years old and is the father of two.
47 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAsimionesei was brought back from Romania to face trial on charges under the Theft & Fraud Act (thejournal.ie)
  • whatAsimionesei was extradited from Romania after going on the run in March 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe relay device was found at his residence in Eaton Drive, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, on 5 March 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereHe was caught in a stolen vehicle in the Rathcoole area of West Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe offences occurred on dates in 2019 and 2020 at locations in Dublin and Meath (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe offences occurred on dates in 2019 and 2020 at locations in Co Dublin and Co Meath. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenHe was caught in a stolen vehicle in the early hours of 5 March 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeHe was accused of stealing a 2019-registered Kia Niro worth €30,000. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation was carried out by the Garda Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigating Unit (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationA European Arrest Warrant was obtained to bring him back to Ireland (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe case was investigated by the Garda Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigating Unit. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationHe was initially arrested on 5 March 2020 but released pending preparation of a file for the DPP. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA European Arrest Warrant had to be obtained to bring him back to Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationOfficers from the Garda Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigating Unit arrested him over handling stolen property. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeHe is accused of two counts of deception over the sale of two cars for €35,000 (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe is accused of stealing a 2019-registered Kia Niro worth €30,000 (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe is accused of handling another stolen car valued at €15,000 (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe is accused of handling stolen car airbags, engines, doors, seats and other parts (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe has a charge for having a Dell rucksack and an electronic relay device at his residence in Eaton Drive, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, on 5 March 2020 (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeHe is charged with having a Dell rucksack and an electronic relay device for use in connection with a theft. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe had faced two counts of deception over the sale of two cars for €35,000. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeHe was also charged with having an electronic relay device for use in connection with a theft. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHe appeared before Dublin District Court on 25 February 2023 before Judge Bryan Smyth (thejournal.ie)
  • courtHe made denials to three charges and had no reply to the remaining 12 charges (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe DPP directed trial at the Circuit Court level (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe appeared before Dublin District Court on Saturday before Judge Bryan Smyth. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe was required to surrender his passport, provide a new mobile number, reside at Foxdene Avenue in Lucan, and sign on daily at the local Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtLegal aid was granted. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceBail conditions included surrendering his passport, providing a new mobile number, residing at Foxdene Avenue in Lucan, and signing on daily at the local Garda station (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceAsimionesei was jailed for five years with the final 18 months suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe article reports that he was jailed for three and a half years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHe is the father of two (thejournal.ie)
  • otherAsimionesei was initially arrested on 5 March 2020 but released pending preparation of a DPP file (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHe left the country with his family 12 days after being told gardaí would be in touch (thejournal.ie)
  • otherDefence counsel said Asimionesei had lived in Ireland since he was nine (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHis father and siblings were in Ireland and willing to stand bail (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHe went back to Romania after his mother died because of something related to her will (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe had intended to set up a company in Romania (thejournal.ie)
  • otherAsimionesei was extradited from Romania on Friday 24 February 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe left the country with his family 12 days after his initial arrest. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe had lived in Ireland since he was nine years old. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGardaí believe the gang stole 64 vehicles from 2017 to 2020 worth about €1.6m. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherOfficers believed Asimionesei was the leader of the gang. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí linked Asimionesei to a total insurance loss of €184,850. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí found a lock-up facility under his control containing vehicles and stolen car parts. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí believe the chop shop has ceased operating since his arrest. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Dec2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Head of 'chop shop' car theft gang responsible for €1.6m scheme jailed

    Reports the sentence of five years with 18 months suspended. The headline and lead say he was jailed for three and a half years. Links him to a gang responsible for 64 vehicle thefts worth about €1.6m from 2017 to 2020.

    convicted, Constantine Asimionesei, 33, male, namedConstantine Asimionesei
  2. 25 Feb2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Businessman extradited over stolen cars and motor parts and electronic device for theft

    Details of Asimionesei's extradition from Romania, the full list of 15 charges, his bail conditions, and background including that he left Ireland 12 days after his initial arrest in March 2020 and went to Romania after his mother's death.

    accused, Constantine Asimionesei, 33, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Constantine Asimionesei
  3. 25 Feb2023
    In courtthejournal.ie, follow-up
    Businessman extradited over stolen cars and motor parts and electronic device for theft

    Details the extradition from Romania, the specific 15 charges, the bail hearing before Judge Bryan Smyth, the DPP's direction for Circuit Court trial, and the bail conditions imposed.

    accused, Constantine Asimionesei, 33, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Constantine Asimionesei