Man Is Jailed For Ebay Sales Scam (England)
stevek
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Would be nice if the United States started doing the same thing with these ebay scammers.
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MAN IS JAILED FOR EBAY SALES SCAM
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BY TOM PEGDEN
10:30 - 15 October 2005
A gambling addict who sold £30,000 worth of fake sports memorabilia on the internet has been jailed for 16 months.
Robert Housden used the eBay auction site to sell fakes he claimed were signed by stars such as David Beckham, Manchester United and the England rugby team.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and players Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs provided signatures to police so handwriting experts could confirm the deception.
The 19-year-old, from Chapel Street, Shepshed, used his computer skills to con at least 73 people around the world.
Sentencing him at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday, Judge Ian Collis said: "You used eBay to deceive people into paying money for goods they would never get or which were worthless.
"These were sold to people often with little money but who wanted to spend it on their passion in life.
"They thought they would get something to treasure. It would have been a disaster when they realised they had been taken for fools."
Housden stood expressionless as he was sentenced to 12 months for 14 counts of deception totalling £30,000, and one of attempted deception.
The con ran between February 2003 and September 2004.
The sentence also covered one count of fraudulently withdrawing £4,500 from a friend's bank account. A further 57 similar matters were taken into consideration.
Housden was also given four months for a £2,280 internet betting scam using other people's account details in August - committed after he had pleaded guilty to the eBay charges.
He was banned from using internet auction, trading and gaming accounts for five years under an Anti-social behaviour order.
Housden was driven to crime after losing £65,000 on his gambling addiction. He pleaded guilty to all his crimes.
The court previously heard how he also tried to sell boots "signed" by Beckham.
Fake certificates were offered with some of the items.
His illegal money-spinner was uncovered when collector Simon Shakeshaft, from Shrewsbury, bought a "signed" Manchester United shirt to raise cash for cancer charity Everyman.
Mr Shakeshaft paid £201.01 for the shirt but realised it was fake as soon as it arrived.
Outside court, Mr Shakeshaft said: "It was not the same as the picture advertising it. It was just scribbles."
After failing to get a refund, he complained to Shropshire Trading Standards, who turned to Manchester United for help.
In defence, Jason Mansell, told the court: "Just as other defendants stand with addictions to drugs and alcohol, he stands before you with an addiction to gambling.
"That does not excuse his behaviour, but addictions are illnesses that need to be fed or treated."
Link
MAN IS JAILED FOR EBAY SALES SCAM
More News | Back to home page
Be the first reader to comment on this story
BY TOM PEGDEN
10:30 - 15 October 2005
A gambling addict who sold £30,000 worth of fake sports memorabilia on the internet has been jailed for 16 months.
Robert Housden used the eBay auction site to sell fakes he claimed were signed by stars such as David Beckham, Manchester United and the England rugby team.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and players Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs provided signatures to police so handwriting experts could confirm the deception.
The 19-year-old, from Chapel Street, Shepshed, used his computer skills to con at least 73 people around the world.
Sentencing him at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday, Judge Ian Collis said: "You used eBay to deceive people into paying money for goods they would never get or which were worthless.
"These were sold to people often with little money but who wanted to spend it on their passion in life.
"They thought they would get something to treasure. It would have been a disaster when they realised they had been taken for fools."
Housden stood expressionless as he was sentenced to 12 months for 14 counts of deception totalling £30,000, and one of attempted deception.
The con ran between February 2003 and September 2004.
The sentence also covered one count of fraudulently withdrawing £4,500 from a friend's bank account. A further 57 similar matters were taken into consideration.
Housden was also given four months for a £2,280 internet betting scam using other people's account details in August - committed after he had pleaded guilty to the eBay charges.
He was banned from using internet auction, trading and gaming accounts for five years under an Anti-social behaviour order.
Housden was driven to crime after losing £65,000 on his gambling addiction. He pleaded guilty to all his crimes.
The court previously heard how he also tried to sell boots "signed" by Beckham.
Fake certificates were offered with some of the items.
His illegal money-spinner was uncovered when collector Simon Shakeshaft, from Shrewsbury, bought a "signed" Manchester United shirt to raise cash for cancer charity Everyman.
Mr Shakeshaft paid £201.01 for the shirt but realised it was fake as soon as it arrived.
Outside court, Mr Shakeshaft said: "It was not the same as the picture advertising it. It was just scribbles."
After failing to get a refund, he complained to Shropshire Trading Standards, who turned to Manchester United for help.
In defence, Jason Mansell, told the court: "Just as other defendants stand with addictions to drugs and alcohol, he stands before you with an addiction to gambling.
"That does not excuse his behaviour, but addictions are illnesses that need to be fed or treated."
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