An aspiring criminal lawyer accused of using a friend's identity to get free ambulance trips and a prescription from a doctor has been labelled a "compulsive liar", a court has heard.
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Police claim Matthew Evan Iorianni, 27, from Albion Park, repeatedly defrauded authorities by using his mate's personal details to book ambulance trips and attend a doctor's appointment, then lied to that same friend about having terminal cancer.
It is also alleged he told the man he was a trained barrister, however, according to Iorianni's LinkedIn profile, his most recent job was working in customer service at Westpac Bank.
His profile said he deferred his law studies in 2012 but intended completing the course and "specialising in criminal law".
Arresting officers labelled Iorianni a "compulsive liar", saying he was wanted on two outstanding arrest warrants in Victoria for similar offences.
In Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday, a set of police fact sheets said Iorianni came to police attention on February 15 this year after a pharmacist reporting receiving a forged prescription.
The pharmacist told officers Iorianni, who was known to him, came into the pharmacy earlier that day seeking Tegretol (used to treat epilepsy) and Tramadol (a pain medication) with a dodgy prescription, in a false name.
The pharmacist told Iorianni he wanted to check the validity of the prescription before giving him the drugs.
When contacted, the doctor confirmed he'd prescribed the Tegretol but not the Tramadol, prompting the pharmacist to call police.
Officers spoke to Iorianni a week later. He denied writing the Tramadol on the script but allegedly confirmed he'd used a false name for the appointment.
When police spoke with the man named on the prescription, he and his wife said they were good friends with Iorianni but denied any knowledge of the script.
They also said they'd received a $395.70 invoice in the husband's name for an ambulance trip on January 27. When contacted, NSW Ambulance confirmed two more invoices were on their way.
On further questioning, Iorianni allegedly admitted he'd taken all three ambulance trips and had given paramedics and the hospital his friend's name and address instead of his own.
He was charged with using an altered prescription and using identity information to commit an offence, however failed to turn up to court on April 24, prompting his arrest on Tuesday morning.
Defence lawyer Paul Cramer confirmed Iorianni had missed his court date because he was in Prince of Wales Hospital at the time.
Magistrate Darryl Pearce released Iorianni on conditional bail.
The case will return to court on May 21.
