Meadow springs man fined $800 for buying stolen iPad

Lee Michael O’Reilly was found guilty in the Mandurah Magistrates Court of receiving stolen goods.

Mr O’Reilly bought an Apple iPad worth $700 “to surprise his daughter” from Mandurah Buy and Sell on Facebook.

On September 18, police attended his home to retrieve the iPad. Mr O’Reilly claims he had no idea it was stolen.

Mr O’Reilly has no criminal record and this was the first time he had been in trouble with police.

The victim of a burglary in Preston Beach used a Find my iPad app to find their iPad.

Mr O’Reilly was fined $800 in Mandurah Magistrates Court and ordered to pay $88.50 in costs.

He was given a spent conviction, which means he won’t have a criminal record for buying the iPad.

Mr O’Reilly told reporters outside court that he wants to warn other people not to buy property on Facebook.

“I didn’t realise what I was buying,” he said. “I think I got let off pretty easy and I won’t be doing it again.

“I bought it for my 10-year-old daughter as a surprise, but luckily I hadn’t given it to her yet.”

Mr O’Reilly is co-operating with police and trying to help them find the person who sold him the iPad.

There are still iPads for sale on Mandurah Buy and Sell. Prices for the second hand iPads range from $300 to $550.