Constantinos Papageorgiou: Ripped off US car lover, stole from dad
Con the conman: A ‘restorer’ who took $28k from the owner of a rare 1977 Lincoln Continental also stole from his own family.
South East
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A dodgy panel beater who deceived a trusting classic car owner out of tens of thousands of dollars he handed over to restore his pride and joy has been jailed.
But Constantinos Papageorgiou walked free from prison having already serving the four-month sentence while on remand.
The 40-year-old Moorabbin mechanic also stole from those closer to him, robbing his dad of $8000.
He pleaded guilty to deceptions and bail breach charges at the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Court documents reveal the victim, an owner of a 1977 Lincoln Continental mark V, met Papageorgiou in May 2018 and asked him for a quote to completely restore his rare US car.
He was told a ballpark figure of between $45,000 and $50,000, and asked to provide a $15,000 initial payment, which he did.
In July the car owner was asked to hand over another $10,000 for ongoing work, which was sent by bank transfer to Papageorgiou’s car business account.
He was told to expect the work to be done by Christmas.
But by December that year nothing had happened to the car and the owner confronted Papageorgiou at his Moorabbin workshop, but the smooth-talking thief manage to placate him.
March 2019 came by and Papageorgiou moved workplace, and brazenly asked the victim to lend him $3000 for a bond, which the man did.
The Lincoln owner finally gave up in May 2019, demanding all his money back and sending a tow truck to collect his unrestored car, which had had no work done whatsoever.
Papageorgiou then agreed a payment plan to reimburse the victim, but never handed over a cent.
Customers weren’t the only people to be affected by Con the conman.
In April last year Papageorgiou contacted his father to ask to borrow $60,000, but due to his previous form for not repaying loans, he was knocked back.
A few days later the dad was sent a bank email stating $8000 had been taken from his account.
Papageorgiou admitted to his father he had nicked the cash, and promised to repay it, saying he would send a cheque.
He did send it, but it bounced and the dad’s money was gone.
Papageorgiou was on bail at the time for the car crime.
Defence lawyer Sonja Radovic said her client didn’t have any issues with drugs or mental health, but has not revealed what he did with all the money he took.
Magistrate Richard Pithouse said “a lot of money has gone through his hands” and he wasn’t optimistic about the likelihood of Papageorgiou not offending again.
“I can’t see a leopard changing his spots,” Mr Pithouse said.
“The next time (he commits a crime) the amount (of jail) will be in multiple years.”
Papageorgiou was jailed for 120 days, classed as time served, and ordered to repay $28,000 to the car owner.
