Scam raked in £141,000 in 48 days

A TRADER used auction website eBay to cheat customers out of thousands of pounds for goods he failed to supply, Warrington Crown Court was told
In the space of 48 days Allan Stewart, 33, took 327 orders, totalling £141,224 for mini-motor bikes, quad bikes and go karts, the court heard.
More than 50 of his customers paid for the goods but never received them.
Stewart, who traded under the name Cheshire Motors, from a house

at Runcorn, admitted three offences of dishonest trading and was given a 350-day prison sentence, suspended for two years.
He was also placed under supervision for two years and ordered to pay £10,832.59 compensation to his victims.
The court was told that Stewart, who now lived in Churchill Drive, Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty, had already served 10-months in prison for similar offences in Scotland
Judge David Hale told him: “If you had not already served a sentence for similar offences after these offences were committed, I would be sending you to prison today.”
Peter Moss, prosecuting, said Stewart set up a business on eBay using the account Hypo2807. He took 327 orders, totalling £141,224, for mini motor bikes, quad bikes and go karts in the space of 48 days.
At first he supplied the vehicles legitimately but he could not keep up with the demand.
Stewart continued to cash cheques for the vehicles, which he obtained from suppliers in China and the USA, even though he never had them in his possession to be delivered.
In one case, the victim paid £3,000 for six go karts he never received.
Police contacted 66 of Stewart’s customers who had complained to eBay about his transactions, and they found 58 of them had paid for goods, but never received them.
Mr Moss said Stewart was convicted of a similar offence of dishonest trading on eBay in Scotland in 2006.
Robert Golinski, defending, said Stewart had substantial mental health problems as well as an alcohol addiction.