WALES: Internet Swindler Jailed

A NOTORIOUS conman who swindled thousands of pounds from eBay customers was put behind bars yesterday for committing fresh offences on the internet auction website.

Phillip Shortman was given a two-year sentence at Newport Crown Court in South Wales after admitting five counts of deception and asking for a further 32 to be taken into account.

By not sending on goods he had “sold” or not paying for items that had been sent to him, the 20-year-old from Greenmeadow, Cwmbran, profited with cash and goods to the value of pounds 14,200.

The married father-of-two was originally sentenced to 12 months’ detention in 2005 after conning eBay users out of pounds 45,000.

The money was spent on a lavish lifestyle which included limo rides with friends and a shopping trip to New York.

A proceeds of crime hearing may be held in an attempt to recover some of the cash.

Prosecutor Ian Ibrahim said the defendant had used false names to fraudulently sell a variety of items including 2006 Ryder Cup tickets, a Sony camcorder and a state-of-the-art mobile phone he priced at more than pounds 900.

He also received a laptop valued at pounds 250 and computer parts that he didn’t pay for.

Judge David Morris said: “Internet trading depends on trust and honesty.

“When those like you deceive purchasers and vendors over the internet, it strikes at the system as a whole and brings otherwise respectable trading institutions and individuals into overall disrepute.”

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