A Hertfordshire conman who “ripped off” people wanting to buy tickets for concerts and sporting events was jailed yesterday (Friday) for three years six months.
Fraudster John Koukoullis, 50, made over £50,000 selling tickets for British and Irish Lions tours, Anthony Joshua fights, Rolling Stones concerts and Peter Kay tours that he did not have.
It was not the first time he had been involved in such a scam – in 2012 he was jailed for two years for illegally selling tickets through his companies Hertsboxoffice Ltd and Primetime Events.
Prosecutor Stefan Weidmann told St Albans crown court: “He set up websites purporting to supply tickets for music, sport and entertainment events. It was a rip off – plain and simple.”
He made £45,000 from a company called Pro Time Tours. After his arrest in September 2017 he set up another company called Liveticket stream and tricked customers out of just over £10,000.
Koukoullis, previously from Hertford, but who was arrested in Fellows Road, Camden London NW3 appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud, transferring criminal property and 29 separate charges of fraud.
Defending, Callum Munday said that Koukoullis accepted he was involved in the first fraud by setting up the website reported and the marketing for his brother, who has fled to the United States.
He said: “The company did deliver tickets to customers, but occasionally it offered tickets that were not in their possession. Some customers did not receive tickets or refunds.
The father of four had spent 7 months in custody and was “keen to get back and earn an honest living”, he said.
Jailing him, Judge Michael Kay QC said: “It was a long series of fraudulent activity between August 2016 and June 2018.
“The aim was to set tickets over the internet for music and sporting events. I am told
Some of these were genuine transactions.
“There were many incidents where people did not receive tickets. People buy tickets for birthdays, special occasions and treats. It is a very callous way of behaving towards fellow human beings.”
A proceeds of crime hearing will be at a later date.
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