Scammer jailed for defrauding concert-goer out of half-a-week's wages in ticket ‘ruse'
A scammer who defrauded a concert-goer out of half-a-week's wages for tickets he never got in a 'premeditated ruse' has been jailed for six months.
Jason Whelan (35) was 'easily identifiable' by gardaí after the victim agreed to transfer the money into his Revolut account, a court heard.
Judge John Hughes suspended another three-month sentence on condition he pays compensation to the man, who said he no longer trusted people as easily, 'especially online'.
Whelan, a father of three from Ferrycarrig Drive, Coolock, pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to deception under the Theft and Fraud Act on November 23, 2021.
The court heard the victim made a report to gardaí after he bought a ticket for a concert, transferring €250 by Revolut to an account. He never received the ticket and gardaí established the account was Whelan's.
In a victim-impact statement, the man said the money he lost was half-a-week's wages and he did not have the benefit of going to the concert either. It also affected him psychologically, in that he no longer trusted people as easily as he had before.
Whelan had been 'easily identifiable' when gardaí investigated the crime and he apologised, defence barrister Lydia Daly said.
He committed the offence because he was trying to obtain money to feed his drug addiction. 'He's got a good work ethic, but he went down the wrong path,' Ms Daly said.
He had started taking drugs at the age of 12 and his main issue had been cocaine.
Whelan had ended up homeless as a result and had been staying in hostels, but was now drug-free and in 'a better place than he was at the time' of the offence.
The accused had worked as an electrician, at a call centre and in catering, the court heard. Judge Hughes said Whelan had been employed since the incident, but 'hasn't got a penny in court' in compensation.
'It's had a significant effect on the victim who was scammed by Mr Whelan in a premeditated manner,' Judge Hughes said.
'It takes a certain amount of time and premeditation to come up with the ruse of a ticket scam. He took half-a-week's wages from his victim and he's come to court without any compensation.'
He suspended three months of a nine-month sentence for two years on condition that Whelan pays €500 compensation by November 23 and has no contact with the victim.
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