Tesla Owner Says Abusive Ex Took Control of Key Car Settings to Stalk and Intimidate Her

A Sydney woman was allegedly harassed by her former partner through her Tesla after he gained access to the vehicle's app, with the technology becoming one element of the abusive behaviour for which he was later convicted.

Stacey, a pseudonym, had reportedly experienced four years of abuse from Enrico Pucci before the relationship ended. Court proceedings heard that the technology became another means of exerting control, with the Tesla's digital systems allowing remote changes to important vehicle functions.

Tesla App Used to Control Vehicle

Police material presented in court noted that Stacey noticed in November 2025 that her Tesla's dashboard had been reset and that a parental control profile had appeared on the vehicle. She did not have access to that profile, while Pucci was allegedly able to use the Tesla app to alter settings remotely, per The Guardian.

Court proceedings heard that the technology became another means of exerting control, with the Tesla app allowing remote changes to settings including the vehicle's speed, climate controls, locks and curfew. At points, the vehicle's speed was limited to 40km/h through Valet Mode, while the cabin temperature was repeatedly changed between very hot and very cold settings.

Police documents tendered in court stated: 'The victim has not been able to drive certain speeds and on most recent occasions throughout this period, [the accused] has turned on 'Valet Mode' which immediately reduces the speed to 40km per hour causing significant safety issues for the victim on the road.'

The court also heard that Stacey 'has not had any control of her vehicle' from 1 November 2025, when she had detected the parental control profile. 'The accused has been the only one with access to the vehicle's controls utilising the Tesla app. This has caused the victim significant stress, mental harm and fears for her physical safety when operating her own vehicle,' the documents further said.

Pattern of Domestic Abuse

Pucci was convicted of 30 domestic violence-related offences and Pucci was sentenced to two years and three months in prison, with a non-parole period of 15 months. Judge Peter Feather said the behaviour, viewed cumulatively, was coercive and controlling and reflected a pattern designed to entrench power and compliance, per The Guardian.

'When viewed cumulatively, [it] amounts to conduct that's both coercive and controlling in nature, reflecting a pattern of behaviour designed to entrench power and compliance,' Judge Feather said.

Earlier Abuse Detailed in Police Documents

The police documents described a long history of alleged abuse involving Stacey and Pucci. Police documents alleged that Pucci threatened Stacey in relation to her son when she attempted to end the relationship in March 2020.

'The accused threatened that would be the last time the victim sees her son if she ended the relationship. The accused forcibly took her phone and typed a message to the victim's ex husband stating that she could not care for her son and wished to give him up,' the documents stated.

'The accused forcibly removed the victim from her car and dragged her to a nearby pillar, pinned her against it and said 'say goodbye to your son'. The accused drove off with the victim's child, leaving the victim without a phone or a car.'

Pucci reportedly returned several minutes later and warned her about what would happen if she attempted to leave the relationship again, saying, 'I hope you comprehend what will happen to you if you break up again.' The incident resulted in a common-assault conviction, according to the police material.

A separate incident in 2021 described an even more serious incident after the pair had married. Stacey told authorities that Pucci strangled her until she lost consciousness and that she feared she would die, according to police documents tendered in court. 'Everything went quiet, and the victim blacked out," the police material read.