Sydney Man Sentenced for Coercive Control Using Tesla App
A Sydney woman lost complete control of her electric vehicle after her former partner weaponized the Tesla smartphone application to track, harass, and remotely restrict her driving. According to police documents tendered in court, 50-year-old Enrico Pucci added a hidden “parental control” profile to the vehicle’s system, allowing him to dictate speed limits, manipulate cabin temperatures, and lock out the owner following their separation.
Judge Peter Feather sentenced Pucci before the Parramatta local court to two years and three months in prison with a non-parole period of 15 months. Pucci pleaded guilty to the charges the week before a hearing scheduled in August, though court records show he is currently appealing against his sentence for the 30 offences and faces a further court appearance in late October.
How the Remote Vehicle Manipulation Unfolded
The digital harassment began nearly a year prior when the victim, referred to in court documents as Stacey, heard her car alarm sound on three separate occasions during the night. Fearful that her former partner was vandalizing the vehicle, she remained inside, according to police records. The following morning, the car appeared physically undamaged, but the electronic dashboard had been reset and a restricted profile had been installed.
Within three days, Pucci followed Stacey in another vehicle, shouting abuse through the window. “You thought you’d get away with this. I am in your car. I am in your maps,” he yelled, according to police files. Investigators found that the unauthorized profile granted Pucci remote access to vital car functions via the Tesla app, completely locking the owner out of her own settings.
Did you know? Modern connected vehicles rely heavily on smartphone applications for digital key sharing and remote management.
Pattern of Coercive Control and Prior Assaults
The digital tracking formed part of a broader four-year pattern of domestic abuse documented by police prosecutors. During his sentencing remarks, Judge Feather noted that Pucci utilized multiple methods to dominate the victim, including forging fraudulent employment opportunities designed to create dependency while also forcing her to pass up other opportunities.
Court records detail severe physical violence predating the digital harassment. In March 2020, during an incident that resulted in a conviction for common assault, Pucci threatened that Stacey would never see her two-year-old son again if she ended the relationship. Police documents state he forcibly removed her from her car, pinned her against a pillar, and drove away with the child. In a separate incident in 2021 after their marriage, Pucci strangled the victim until she blacked out and feared for her life.
Stacey had originally purchased the Tesla while the couple was together. Struggling with the onboard technology, she accepted Pucci’s offer to register the car in his name so he could take control of the Tesla app to assist her. Following the end of the relationship in November 2025, Pucci attempted to disconnect her car from its charging port seven times remotely.
Corporate Misconduct and Prior Legal Penalties
Pucci’s legal troubles extend beyond domestic violence into corporate misconduct. In 2017, the federal court found that a Sydney cleaning firm owned by Pucci, Grouped Property Services (GPS) Pty Ltd, had treated some vulnerable foreign workers as slaves after refusing to pay them for months and leaving them without furniture, food and critical medical treatment. Pucci was personally fined $3,000 for firing a woman when she asked why she had not been paid. In 2022, ASIC disqualified him from managing corporations for the maximum period of five years due to his involvement in the failure of three companies, which owed almost $10m to creditors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific charges did Enrico Pucci face?
Pucci was convicted of 30 offences, including eight counts of stalking or intimidation with the intention to cause fear or physical harm, six counts of common assault, two counts of choking a person without consent, one count of using a carriage service to threaten to kill and one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend.
How did Pucci control the victim’s car?
According to police documents, Pucci utilized the Tesla app after registering the vehicle in his name. He added a parental control profile that allowed him to control the car, including its speed, climate control, lock and curfew hours, determining when the car could be driven.
What sentence did the judge hand down?
Judge Peter Feather sentenced Pucci to two years and three months before Parramatta local court in western Sydney, with a non-parole period of 15 months. Pucci is appealing against his sentence.
Where can victims of domestic violence seek help?
In Australia, domestic and family violence counselling is available from Full Stop Australia on 1800 385 578. In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence, support services are available around the clock. Please share your thoughts or experiences in the comments below, or subscribe to our newsletter for ongoing legal and safety updates.