Teen fraudster gets detention for duping 100 eBay buyers

BBC News reports that "a teenage fraudster who conned customers of the internet auction site eBay out of £45,000 has been sent to a detention centre for a year. Phillip Shortman, now 18, of New Inn, Pontypool, had already admitted 21 counts of fraud at a prior hearing."

During his trial at Newport, magistrates had heard Shortman, who was 17 when he committed the offences, had deceived more than 100 eBay customers over a 13-month period.

He had spent the money on top of the range computer equipment, hi-fis and flat-screen televisions, as well as designer clothes and hiring stretch limousines for himself and his friends.