Northern Ireland

Man facing prison for Liverpool tickets fraud

<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;; ">The case involved claims of having tickets for Liverpool's home games during the 2018/19 season</span>
The case involved claims of having tickets for Liverpool's home games during the 2018/19 season The case involved claims of having tickets for Liverpool's home games during the 2018/19 season

A man convicted of a Liverpool FC ticket scam could be facing a prison term, a judge has warned.

Belfast Magistrates' Court heard Carl McGookin defrauded a fan who paid £360 for seats at big matches at the club's Anfield Stadium.

McGookin (29) with an address at Seahaven Avenue in Portavogie, Co Down, appeared remotely from his solicitor's offices for sentencing.

But the hearing was adjourned after it emerged that he is also charged with a £7,000 fraud in a separate case.

Ordering McGookin to attend court in person next week, District Judge Fiona Bagnall indicated he could be "in difficulties".

She said: "I'm not content to deal with this because I think there may well be a certain course that has to be taken."

McGookin was due to be sentenced for two counts of fraud by false representation.

The case involved claims of having tickets for Liverpool's home games during the 2018/19 season.

"Essentially Mr McGookin was pretending to sell tickets to Liverpool matches at Anfield for £60 a ticket," a prosecution lawyer said.

In May last year the injured party informed police he had been defrauded out of a total of £360.

The man twice transferred money after McGookin provided him with bank account details.

He paid £120 for two tickets to a match on February 19, 2019 - when Liverpool faced German giants Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

A further £240 was transferred into the account for four tickets to a game on April 26.

On that date Liverpool were at home to Huddersfield in a Premier League fixture.

"During interview Mr McGookin said he organised for the tickets to be delivered via a third party before the matches, only to find out the third party was involved in an accident," the prosecutor said.

"He wanted the injured party to attend at the hospital to give him the tickets."

Seeking a compensation order, she submitted: "The prosecution case is the money is outstanding, and compensation is sought."

It emerged that McGookin is also charged with separate false transactions causing a loss to Musgrave Distributions Ltd.

Although no details were disclosed, Judge Bagnall noted that alleged fraud involved a total sum of £7,286.

"I'm not content that he is in the solicitor's office," she said.

"He has a significant number of fraud matters on his record and here we are again with two matters. One is for £300 but the other is £7,000.

Adjourning to November 2, she stressed: "I want him to be present."