Woman sold fake tickets to events

MORE than 100 people were ripped off by a fraudster who sold fake tickets, flights and accommodation from her Airlie Beach business.

Some of the victims arrived at events and discovered they did not have a valid ticket.

Julie- Ann Kristeen Yeowell pleaded guilty in Townsville Magistrates Court on Friday to 104 counts of fraud through her business, Universal Sports Tours, from May 2015 to November 2016.

Senior prosecutor Mark Fenlon told the court each of the 104 charges represented a victim and in some cases event organisers had taken a loss.

“One of the victims … is the people that organised the V8 races – they seem to have taken a great deal of pity on some of these people who have shown up and actually allowed them in,” he said.

Mr Fenlon said each victim lost at least $ 1000 but there were one or two group bookings worth about $ 17,000.

Mr Fenlon said the fraud was worth $ 130,000 in total.

Yeowell was sentenced to 2 ½ years’ jail in May 2016 for fraud perpetrated at the same time. She was due for parole release on November 30 that year but further investigations revealed many more victims.

Yeowell was eventually charged with the further 104 counts and ended up spending 17 months in jail before her release on bail in October.

Defence solicitor Tristan Carlos said if all charges had been dealt with at the same time, Yeowell would have been sentenced to four years’ jail and released after 16 months.

He argued Yeowell should spend no further time in jail.

Mr Fenlon asked that Yeowell be ordered to pay restitution in full.

“The community as a whole has effectively been preyed upon,” he said.

Acting Magistrate Luxton will deliver his tence at 2pm tomorrow. Scott sen-