Two men involved in a fraudulent Liverpool FC ticket scheme have received their sentences. John Stuart, 42, from Kirkby, was sentenced to eight months in prison, while Greg O’Neill, 41, from Prescot, received a two-year community order at Liverpool Crown Court on August 27.
Stuart led the scam, swindling thousands from three men who sought tickets to the Champions League Final in May 2022. One victim paid £8,500 for two so-called “category one” tickets for the match in France.
O’Neill aided Stuart by transferring funds to his relatives and friends. The victims soon discovered they had been defrauded when Stuart failed to deliver the tickets. They contacted both men through their phones and WhatsApp. O’Neill insisted he was not complicit, claiming he allowed Stuart to use his bank account out of fear for his safety.
Eventually, Stuart confessed he had no tickets and promised to refund the victims, but no money was returned. He was arrested on October 20, 2022, and admitted during questioning, “I took the money off them; I didn’t provide the tickets. It was my f**k up,” attributing his actions to circumstances beyond his control.
At a hearing on June 26, 2024, Stuart pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud. He was ordered to repay all the money he stole, in addition to his prison sentence. O’Neill pleaded guilty to transferring criminal property and was acquitted of three fraud counts as the Crown Prosecution Service dropped those charges. In addition to his community order, O’Neill was required to complete 15 days of rehabilitation and a 12-month mental health treatment requirement.
District Crown Prosecutor Brian Forshaw remarked, “John Stuart is a heartless ticket scammer who exploited LFC fans eager to see their team in the Champions League Final. He never returned any of their money.”
Forshaw also noted O’Neill’s lesser involvement, stating, “The scam unraveled quickly, and the two men are now convicted criminals.” He emphasized that anyone can fall victim to fraud, especially in the online realm, and reaffirmed the commitment of the Crown Prosecution Service to work with law enforcement to ensure justice is served.