UK eBay Fraudster Jailed Again
Published July 18th, 2009
An eBay fraudster has been jailed for 30 months for conning internet users out of thousands of pounds months after his release from prison.
Phillip Shortman, 22, from Cwmbran, admitted 15 counts of fraud and asked for 13 more similar offences to be taken into consideration.
The judge told Shortman: “You are a thoroughly dishonest young man.”
The court heard how internet users paid Shortman for the tickets, but only received an envelope in return with a letter inside saying the tickets were enclosed.
Gareth James, prosecuting, said Shortman had stapled the letters, removed the staples and made a slit in the envelopes to make it look like the tickets had been intercepted.
Mr James said Shortman had appeared before the court in May 2005 aged 18 for 21 counts of obtaining property by deception on eBay and had asked for 63 further offences to be taken into consideration.
In August 2008, Mr James said, Shortman was jailed for 24 months for a further five counts of obtaining property by deception through eBay.
