Devizes buyer duped by eBay fraudster (From This Is Wiltshire)

Devizes buyer duped by eBay fraudster

2:37pm Friday 21st November 2008 in

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Devizes online shopper Robert Wilson was conned out of almost £1,000 when he bought a non-existent computer from an eBay fraudster, a court heard today.

Mr Wilson, of Victoria Road, won the laptop for £970 in an auction on June 4 but had problems when he tried to complete the purchase with a Paypal transaction.

Seller Glynn Fores suggested that Mr Wilson should instead pay the money directly into his Halifax bank account, prosecutor Angela Hadfield told magistrates at Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

"Mr Wilson did this and delivery was promised but it didn't happen. Mr Fores told him there was a backlog at Royal Mail that would take a few days to clear.

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"It had still not been delivered by June 13. Mr Wilson then tried to contact Mr Fores to no avail," said Mrs Hadfield.

Fores was arrested on November 6 and told police he had been fraudulently selling items on eBay and could not recall this particular offence.

"He said he didn't have the laptop and had no intention of sending one once Mr Wilson's cheque had cleared.

"He said he would have used the money to buy beer and cigarettes and pay off debts," added Mrs Hadfield.

Fores, 36, of Holmefield Road, Whitwell, near Worksop, admitted fraud.

He had pleaded guilty to ten similar offences and asked for another 21 to be considered at a Derby Crown Court hearing in August when he received a 48-week jail sentence suspended for two years.

The Chesterfield bench imposed a compensation order based on Fores' income as a warehouse worker. He must pay £560 to Mr Wilson.

"This offence came to light because the victim made a complaint to his local force, Wiltshire Police," said Jon Barber, for Fores.

"The defendant has already pleaded guilty to a large number of identical offences and, had this matter been dealt with by the Crown Court at the same time, I suspect it would not have affected the sentence imposed.

"He had done so many frauds that he could not remember them all. They totalled more than £10,500 and £1,250 worth of assets were confiscated."