Community term for eBay fraudster

Phillip Shortman said he had learnt from his mistakes

A teenager has escaped a second spell behind bars for repeating a con on the auction website eBay.

Phillip Shortman, 18, admitted tricking Wales rugby fans out of £8,000 with fictional match tickets.

At the time the south Wales teenager was awaiting sentence for 'selling' another £45,000 of non-existent goods.

On Friday a judge at Newport Crown Court imposed a 240-hour community punishment order after being told Shortman had reformed in jail.

Judge David Aubrey said he had been going to send him to jail but had reconsidered the decision after learning that Shortman had been a "platinum inmate" while in custody, with special responsibilities.

He said the teenager had gone from a young man who had been addicted to such offending to someone who understood the gravity of what he had done.

He has learnt from his mistakes and wishes to lose the notoriety he has achieved at such a young age Lawrence Jones, defending

But he also told the defendant that he would not get a second chance if he ever came before his court again.

Shortman had appeared at the court earlier in November to admit four counts of deception.

Grand Slam games

The court heard how he had falsely sold coveted tickets for the Wales v Ireland Six Nations rugby game, and a mobile phone.

His appearance came after he had conned eBay customers out of at least £45,000, and while he was awaiting sentence for those offences.

The hearing was told that Shortman had been able to sign up with the site again, and had an account with its secure payment service, Paypal.

One eBay customer had paid him £7,000 for two debentures because he was desperate to see the Grand Slam decider between Wales and Ireland.

Another victim, Sheila Foster, paid £380 into Shortman's bank account for match tickets for her grandson which never arrived.

Lawrence Jones, defending, said Shortman had been "addicted" to defrauding shoppers on eBay with his bogus offers.

'Honesty'

He said: "He would not have committed these offences if he had not been an addict. He is not a sophisticated criminal.

"He persuaded his victims to send him cheques or pay money into his own bank account.

"But since his jail term he has become a model character. He has learnt from his mistakes and wishes to lose the notoriety he has achieved at such a young age.

"He should be given a chance to move on."

Judge Aubrey said he had taken the "exceptional" view that Shortman did not need to return to custody for the second series of offences.

He told him: "We live in days when more and more business is done on the internet. It depends on the honesty of those who use it.

'Learnt my lesson'

"I could have jailed you but because you have already served time in prison since you committed these offences and because I believe you have been transformed I will not send you to custody.

Speaking outside the court, Shortman his prison experience had inspired him to get qualifications to become a youth worker.

He added: "I'm so happy and relieved to be going home for Christmas. I was ready to go down - I've definitely learnt my lesson."