South Wales Man Jailed for eBay Scam
Published January 4th, 2009
Newport Crown Court has heard how Huw Rees, 28, led a double life away from his British Transport Police job, selling fake designer clothes under the online user name “hugeandhard”and then wired cash to Thailand in a major money-laundering operation.
Police and trading standards investigators discovered nearly £100,000 of illegal proceeds had gone into eBay accounts in his name. The court heard that over two years £8,393 was received on one account and £88,125.20 on another.
Alex Greenwood, prosecuting for Bridgend County Borough Council, said the business involved supplying clothes, probably via a connection in Thailand. The goods, which included fakes of brands including Evisu and G-Star, were sent to customers by Rees or from overseas. “The money laundering charge relates to a snapshot of the defendant’s bank account between February 2, 2006, and February 22, 2007,” Mr Greenwood told Newport Crown Court.
Rees, of Commercial Street, Maesteg,, South Wales, admitted transferring criminal property and unauthorised use of a trademark. He was jailed for 12 months.
A British Transport Police spokesman said: “Mr Rees logged crimes reported from all over Britain and we expect the highest ethical standards from employees.
“It is a matter of regret when one of them does not meet these standards.
“There will now be a disciplinary procedure but obviously Mr Rees will lose his job.”
