Ticket fraudster took fans’ cash

5:50pm Monday 1st December 2008

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An unemployed father-of-four who lied about having tickets to a number of concerts — making £4,885 — walked free from court.

Terry Garvey pretended to sell tickets for Robbie Williams, Westlife and the T in the Park music festival on the Internet auction site eBay.

Oxford Crown Court heard Garvey, of Lodden Avenue, Berinsfield, took money from 15 different victims, but never sent them the tickets.

Trudi Yeatman, prosecuting, said the often young victims suffered dual-pronged disappointment: “Not only did they lose the money, but they also did not receive the tickets.”

Garvey, 34, today admitted 16 charges of obtaining a money transfer by deception and two of obtaining property by deception.

Joanne Sear, defending, said Garvey had to give up his job as a landscape gardener due to ill-health and was in financial difficulties.

Judge Christopher Compston handed Garvey a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and a six month supervision order.

He also banned him from Internet auction sites for two years, but did not order compensation because of Garvey’s financial circumstances.