A teenager who conned eBay customers out of £45,000 has been sentenced to one year's detention today.

Philip Shortman, now 18, of Chester Close, New Inn, Pontypool, South Wales, admitted (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/12/ebay_wales_fraudster/) 21 counts of obtaining property by deception in October of last year, and has asked that another 64 offences be taken into account.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Shortman received money for goods he did not have. He then spent the money on holidays, limousines, clothes and electronics.

Over 13 months, Shortman defrauded more than 100 eBay customers. He advertised goods for sale on the site, then contacted the winning bidders and get them send him the money. He would then ignore or taunt people who called to get the products, telling one customer, "This is my business - I make people fools", the Manchester Evening News reports (http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/news/s/157/157278_12_months_for_ebay_fraud_teenager.html).

Shortman became addicted to the con, saying they "gave him a buzz". He continued to commit frauds after his arrest.

He was ordered to forfeit £615 - all the cash he had left - and to hand over goods bought with the fraudulently-obtained money.

The court heard that since his arrest Shortman had married and become a father. Defending, Lawrence Jones said: "Since he has admitted his guilt, his life has changed. He has undergone a sea-change.

"He is relishing fatherhood and looking forward to the responsibility of being married." ®

Related stories

Teen eBay fraudster pleads guilty to £45k scam (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/12/ebay_wales_fraudster/)
eBayer pleads guilty to 'anthrax' scare (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/04/20/anthrax_ebay/)
eBay deletes 'buy my vote' auctions (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/04/07/ebay_votes/)