Black Country shed fraudster given suspended sentence for eBay scam
A fraudster who conned customers by promising them sheds that were never delivered has avoided prison.
Steven Corbett advertised his shed-making business on eBay and told customers he could only accept payment up front.
When the sheds never arrived he gave various excuses, including that a relative had died, and assured them deliveries would take place.
There were at least 10 victims of Corbett's scam, with individual payments as large as £2,090.
He was bombarded with phone calls and emails by disgruntled customers when the sheds never turned up, most of which went ignored.
Trading standards was alerted and visited Corbett's business, Pine Sheds in Cradley Heath.
A visibly relieved Corbett puffed out his cheeks as he was given a suspended jail sentence at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday.
The court heard how customers agreed to pay up front for sheds on the understanding Corbett would then call to arrange a delivery date.
When one man questioned the policy, Corbett, of Tack Farm Road, Stourbridge, insisted he needed payment up front.
Another out-of-pocket customer travelled three hours to the Black Country from Hertfordshire to try and track Corbett down but found his unit deserted.
Workers from a neighbouring business informed him several others had also tried to find him.
The majority of the payments made to Corbett ranged between £500 and £800 and in total he received £7,375.
Mr Robert Cowley, prosecuting, said: "It quickly became apparent to this defendant that when he was taking orders and full payment in advance he did so knowing he would not be able to complete the orders."
Corbett ripped off customers over six-months starting in January 2015, the court was told.
Mr Cowley told how the rogue trader gave 'excuse after excuse' to one buyer.
He said: "He agreed a future delivery date which was again cancelled. Various excuses were given, that he was in hospital, on holiday and on one occasion he said he had a dying relative."
Corbett pleaded guilty to ten counts of fraud by false representation and was given an eight-month prison term, suspended for 18 months.
He was also ordered to pay back the £7,375 as compensation to the victims.
Recorder Geoffrey Kelly told him: "People who lost out were individuals, they lost money they worked hard for, they would have spent days and days having to contact a man they thought was an honest trader but clearly wasn't."
"These excuses would have been overwhelming and you just palmed them off with excuse after excuse."
Mr Benjamin Williams, defending, said: "The defendant said he didn't maliciously go out to rip anyone off but go himself into a hole he couldn't get out of."
He was experienced in making sheds but overreached himself in trying to run a business."
