Two individuals who defrauded football enthusiasts, promising them tickets to Liverpool's 2022 Champions League final in Paris, have been sentenced.
One fan paid £8,500 for premium “category one” tickets, while two others paid £2,500 each for a pair of tickets.
However, the tickets never appeared, and the funds were not refunded, as heard by Liverpool Crown Court.
John Stuart, 42, from Jarrett Road, Kirkby, received an eight-month prison sentence, and Greg O'Neill, 41, from Beaconsfield, Prescot, was handed a two-year community order for their roles in the fraud.
Stuart had earlier admitted to three counts of fraud, while O’Neill confessed to transferring criminal property. The victims had communicated with Stuart through his mobile phone and transferred the money into O'Neill's bank account, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.
The duo was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court.
Subsequently, O’Neill would move the funds to some of Stuart’s relatives and acquaintances. The fraud was realized by the fans when they contacted the men on WhatsApp a few days later and discovered there were no tickets.
O’Neill claimed to the victims that he was not part of the fraud and had only allowed Stuart to use his bank account to receive the funds because he feared Stuart and his family. Eventually, Stuart conceded that he did not possess the tickets and promised to reimburse the victims, but the repayment was never made.
Upon his arrest on 20 October 2022, Stuart confessed to taking the money without providing any tickets, attributing it to uncontrollable circumstances. He has been mandated to refund the entire amount.
O'Neill received orders to complete 15 days of rehabilitation activities and undergo a 12-month mental health treatment.
District Crown Prosecutor Brian Forshaw stated, "John Stuart is a ruthless ticket fraudster who swindled thousands from LFC fans eager to watch their team in the Champions League Final."
"Stuart capitalized on their eagerness without ever reimbursing them," he continued.
Forshaw noted that O'Neill played a minor role but permitted Stuart to funnel the stolen funds through his bank account, thus diverting suspicion away from Stuart.
According to Mr. Forshaw, the fraudulent scheme was swiftly exposed, resulting in both men being convicted.
