Four year term for ringleader of eBay golf club scam

The ringleader of a gang behind a "highly sophisticated and profitable" multi-million-pound operation to sell fake golf clubs on eBay was jailed for more than four years yesterday.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Mar 2010, 10:14 BST
Updated 5th Mar 2010, 10:14 BST

The global conspiracy – described as the largest fraud of its kind ever uncovered on the popular auction website – unravelled only when a British pensioner complained to her council trading standards team.

Most of the counterfeit golf clubs were made in China and then distributed and sold around the world through an international network of criminals, Snaresbrook Crown Court in London heard.

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Prosecutors described the operation to sell the fake clubs and other merchandise through eBay between June 2003 and March 2008 as "a conspiracy of a truly global nature".

The crooks sold tens of thousands of items of golf equipment and more than three million US dollars was paid into their PayPal accounts during this period.

Mastermind Gary Bellchambers, 46, was at the heart of the scam, and recruited others to help, including his sister Sharron Williams, 49, and ex-business partner Roy Cottee, 66.

The prosecution was brought by Havering Council in east London after pensioner Christine Manz complained about two fake Acushnet golf clubs she bought from Bellchambers on eBay.

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She and her husband were unhappy about the quality of the clubs and tried to get a refund.

The council then launched a major investigation, codenamed Operation Augusta after the US golf club which hosts the Masters.

Bellchambers, of Dunedin Road, Rainham, Essex, pleaded guilty to involvement in the conspiracy along with Keith Thomas, 50, of Martin Drive, Rainham, and Chris Moughton, 56, of Hayfield Avenue, Blackpool.

Bellchambers – whose ex-wife Theresa lives with Thomas – also admitted the unauthorised use of trademarks in relation to counterfeit Qantas business class lounge invitation cards and Sony memory sticks.

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Bellchambers was jailed for four years and three months, with a recommendation that he should serve half the sentence in custody. His right-hand man Thomas was sentenced to 16 months in jail, with an order to serve half in custody.

Moughton received a 19-week sentence, suspended for 12 months, with a three-month tagged night curfew.

Four others were found guilty in December of conspiring together to sell or distribute counterfeit golf clubs, clothing and accessories.

Related topics:LondonMasters