Lorenzo Gianquitto spared further jail time after manufacturing and using fake IDs

A Seaton man has narrowly avoided further jail time after he manufactured fake IDs and flew interstate with a false identity.

A man who used a fake ID to buy mobile phones before boarding a plane under a false identity while on bail turned to a life of deception because of “financial struggles”, a court has heard.

On Wednesday, the Adelaide Magistrates heard Lorenzo Gianquitto, 44 of Seaton, was involved with a group of people who manufactured and used false identification when he was arrested and charged with deception, identity theft, and possession of unlawful materials.

The court heard that on October 16, 2021, Gianquitto had used a fake ID card claiming his name was “Mr Scott” when he walked into an Optus store and bought over $4500 worth of mobile phones and phone plans.

A month later, on November 16, 2021, he was caught in possession of three fake drivers licenses that depicted his image, but completely different names.

Lorenzo Gianquitto has been ordered to serve community service after he got on a flight to Sydney with a fake ID. Picture: Facebook

The court heard he’d turned to deception after financial struggles. Picture: Facebook

Magistrate Simon Smart said that while Gianquitto was on bail for the original charges, he had used one of his false ID cards to catch a flight to Sydney.

“On August 23, you deliberately left in breach of your bail, to end a relationship interstate,” Mr Smart said.

“You chose to travel under a false name because you were conscious of your bail conditions not to leave the state.

“You were arrested having returned from Sydney in a clear breach of your bail, having travelled with a false identification.”

In September this year, Gianquitto pleaded guilty to failing to comply with conditions of his bail, taking a flight using a false ID, possessing prohibited materials and deception.

“The offences display a predilection to act deceptively,” Mr Smart said.

“They are also acknowledged to be premeditated offences, given the degree of planning and degree of preparation.”

“You have a history of offending, but your lawyer has told me that you and others were part of a number of people who had an arrangement to produce and use false identification for the purposes of deception.

“You were under financial stress, and I understand you had previously suffered from a gambling addiction.”

He said Gianquitto’s early guilty pleas entitled him to a 35 per cent discount on his sentence.

He was arrested after he returned from Sydney and charged with using a false identity to take a flight. Picture: iStock

For the deception offences in October, Mr Smart sentenced him to two months and three days imprisonment.

For the possession of false identification offences, he was also sentenced to six weeks imprisonment to be served cumulatively.

“The head sentence I impose is two months, six weeks and three days, but I am satisfied there is reason to suspend that jail term upon you entering into a good behaviour bond,” Mr Smart said.

“I take your breach of bail very seriously, as it was a very serious, deliberate breach of your bail conditions.

“I order you serve 100 hours of community service to be completed in no more than 12 months.

“Beware sir that this will see you released, but you have periods of imprisonment hanging over your head and you need to be of good behaviour.

“A condition not to leave the state is one that you agreed to and is a mandatory condition, and now you know what happens if you do.”

“Thank you, Your Honour. I understand how serious it is,” Gianquitto said.