Aldina Fanning stole friend’s identity to buy car, changed her personal details to hide fraud, court hears

SHE makes her living selling houses and fake eyelashes, but Aldina Ederlina Fanning’s traitorous exploits under a stolen identity have left her facing a decade behind bars.

Aldina Ederlina Fanning outside the District Court.

SHE makes her living selling houses and fake eyelashes, but Aldina Ederlina Fanning’s traitorous exploits under a stolen identity have left her facing jail.

Entrusted with her best friend’s personal details to plan a holiday, Fanning instead used them to obtain a bogus drivers licence and a $12,000 loan for a new car.

She then compounded her betrayal by redirecting her friend’s mail and phone to ensure the unwitting woman would never know about the fraudulent use of her name.

On Thursday, Fanning’s counsel asked the District Court to spare their client immediate jail, saying she would “relish another chance” to do the right thing.

Andrew Ey, for Fanning, said his remorseful client had since repaid the loan out of her wages from MichaelKris Real Estate and the profits of her own business, Le Lash Beautique.

“This has been an extremely stressful time for her, she knows imprisonment is inevitable, but she is in an extremely good place now,” he said.

Talk to the hand: Aldina Ederlina Fanning arrives at the District Court for sentencing submissions.

“Though quite impulsive, she is a young woman that’s intelligent and does have a bright future and a lot of potential.”

Fanning, 31, of Northgate, pleaded guilty to one count each of producing prohibited material and deceiving another to benefit herself, and faces a maximum 10-year jail term.

In February last year, she attempted to use her then-housemate Vanessa Curnow’s expired drivers licence to secure finance to buy a new car.

When that failed, she used Ms Curnow’s identity papers to have a new drivers licence issued — one featuring Ms Curnow’s name and Fanning’s photograph.

Fanning then redirected Ms Curnow’s mail, changed her phone plan and created e-mail accounts in her name so she would never be contacted about the loan.

Her scheme came undone when, in May, Ms Curnow received a routine customer service call from Optus and was alerted to the changes.

Aldina Fanning took steps to cover up her fraud.

Aldina Fanning faces jail over defrauding her best friend.

On Thursday, Ms Curnow’s victim impact statement was read to the court.

“I find it nearly impossible to convey the intimidation, paranoia, anxiety, distress and helplessness I felt and still feel,” it read.

“I have been deceived, manipulated and taken advantage of by someone who I looked up to as a sister ... there are so many toxic emotions and negative feelings.”

Mr Ey said Fanning had never wanted to harm Ms Curnow, had always intended on repaying the loan and wanted the car to “look the part” as a real estate agent.

“She and the victim had in fact been planning a trip to Hawaii ... that’s how she came into possession of the personal documents,” he said.

“She does not resile from the fact this was a serious breach of trust ... she has apologised and made full restitution.”

Will Ellis, prosecuting, said Fanning should not receive a suspended sentence.

“Everything was in the victim’s name ... if not for the Optus call, it’s not clear this would have been discovered (and) led back to Fanning.”

Chief Judge Geoffrey Muecke remanded Fanning on continuing bail for sentencing in April.

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