Three individuals have been sentenced today at Southwark Crown Court for their role in an on-line ticket fraud. The defendants were convicted of a variety of offences last week relating to the failure to supply over £5 million worth of tickets to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and summer music festivals.
Terrence Shepherd (d.o.b 29/09/58) of Blackheath, London was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment and disqualified from acting as a company director for 15 years.
Alan Scott (d.o.b 17/06/54) of Chigwell, Essex was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment and disqualified from acting as a company director for 10 years.
Allan Schaverien (d.o.b 04/12/43) of Esher, Surrey was sentenced to two years and eight months' imprisonment.
In passing sentence today, HHJ Beddoe described the fraud as; "a massive, cynical and utterly dishonest confidence trick which was motivated by greed".
When sentencing Terence Shepherd, HHJ Beddoe said: "Shepherd, you were the one really in control. Scott acted as the front man."
"[You] clearly received the lion's share (of the money). When you needed it, you took it. It was blown on a catalogue of excess, including the extraordinary expenditure of your wife".
When sentencing Alan Scott, HHJ Beddoe said: "Mr Shepherd had the lion's share but that does not absolve you from his crime. You were obviously closely involved and were prepared to front the lie that was this business".
When sentencing Allan Schaverien, HHJ Beddoe said Schaverien "You knew Mr Shepherd very well, you had learned of his inability to run any enterprise for the benefit of anyone other than himself…. By the end of 2007, you knew that Xclusive was a fraud and that Mr Shepherd and Mr Scott were using it to cheat customers. Your role enabled Mr Shepherd to move from one insolvent company to another."
When disqualifying Terence Shepherd and Alan Scott from acting as company directors, HHJ Beddoe said both were wholly unfit to be in control of any company.
Confiscation proceedings will follow at a later date.
