eBay fraudster let off with community punishment and a strict warning

eBay fraudster let off with community punishment and a strict warning

	Published : Sun, 27 Nov 2005 21:05 By : Cedric Benson Print this Story

LONDON - Philip Shortman, a teenager who conned eBay users into shelling out more than £8,000 has been sentenced to 240 hours of community punishment instead of being put into custody. Shortman, 18 took the money and sold fake tickets for the Wales Vs Ireland Six Nations Rugby match, for which tickets went like hot cakes.

Announcing the ruling, the judge at Newport Crown Court said that Shortman understood the gravity of his offenses and had promised to turn over into a new leaf. However, the judge warned that if he breached the law once again, he would be hauled back into jail, "If you breach the order I will reserve the breach of that order to myself. If you come back before me you will go straight back into custody," Judge David Aubrey ruled. Shortman had initially conned eBay users of £45,000 by selling non-existent goods and while he was awaiting sentencing for those offences, he went into the ticket racket.

Lawrence Jones, speaking for the defense, said that Shortman had become addicted to defrauding people, "He would not have committed these offences if he had not been an addict. He is not a sophisticated criminal. He persuaded his victims to send him cheques or pay money into his own bank account." Jones added that the time spent in jail had reformed his client and that he was a model inmate. "He has learnt from his mistakes and wishes to lose the notoriety he has achieved at such a young age," Jones said pleading for leniency. Judge Aubrey said that he had taken all accounts into consideration and felt that Shortman was being honest. He also said that since much of today's business gets conducted on the Internet, the honesty of the traders is very important. "I believe you have been transformed I will not send you to custody," he added.

Outside the court, Shortman was very relieved at having been let off lightly, “I'm so happy and relieved to be going home for Christmas. I was ready to go down - I've definitely learnt my lesson," he said, adding that his prison experiences had made him realize the error of his ways. The father of one also said that he would now take on the necessary qualifications to become a youth worker.