A man is facing trial accused of stealing cars on sale by taking them for "test drives" before selling them off.

26-year-old Stephen Corbally, with an address at a hostel on Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, is looking at charges for several offences going back to 2018.

He appeared before Dublin District Court today and is accused of stealing four cars advertised for sale online on three dates this year and one in 2020.

The cleaner and part-time restaurant worker faces "deception" charges for inducing people to buy stolen cars.

Garda Subomi Etti alleged the accused contacted car sellers via the DoneDeal and Facebook Marketplace websites.

In each case, "he asked to take it for a test drive", the court heard.

It was alleged that the owners handed him the keys before he drove off and "failed to return".

Gardaí have also charged him with stealing €2,300 in cash from a woman at a party on May 2, 2021, and endangering the lives of Gardaí in Finglas on November 22nd, 2018.

Garda Subomi Etti objected to bail over fears Mr Corbally would evade justice, intimidate witnesses or dispose of the illegally acquired property.

However, Mr Corbally said he would abide by the terms and told the court of his health problems: trauma due to his mother's murder in 2017 and a recent diagnosis of a severe illness.

Judge Powers said it is likely the case will be sent to the higher court.

He has been held on €2,500 bail and on release, he must sign on daily at a Garda station, stay out of the Coolmine area in Dublin, and have no contact with witnesses.

He will appear at Cloverhill District Court next week, but it is unclear how he will plead.

Reporting by Tom Tuite

Image: Ognyan Trifonov/Alamy Stock Photo