Fraudster used footballer’s bank details to buy items, court hears
A “FUNNY-NOSED” fraudster used West Ham star Andy Carroll’s bank details to try to buy luxury hampers online, a court heard.
Stephen Ackerman, 48, is accused of duping more than £62,000 out of West Ham footballers and staff including England striker Carroll, James Tomkins, Aaron Cresswell and former boss Sam Allardyce. Ackerman sold them fictitious Harrods and Fortnum & Masons hampers at the West Ham training ground, in Chadwell Heath, north east London, the court heard.
He promised the luxury goods would be delivered on December 15, 2014, but they never arrived, Snaresbrook Crown Court was told.
All the fraudulent payments to Mark Kingston, a pseudonym for Ackerman the Crown claims, were made to a company called Your Personal PA.
Ackerman did in fact try and order hampers from online company i-Hamper – but faced difficulties, the court heard.
Richard Milne, prose cut ROLLING ing, said: “Mark Kingston was putting in people’s orders of hampers, but they had been declined because of suspicions the cards Mark Kingston was using were fraudulent.
“He managed to overcome their concerns by sending a passport photo purporting to be of himself.”
But a passport bearing those names and details has never been issued and he faced difficulties getting the payments approved, the court was told.
Mr Milne said: “He said he had people at West Ham football club expecting Bollinger.
“He was simply bigging himself up by claiming to know West Ham players.”
The prosecution said the player’s cards were used to make illicit purchases, including at i-Hamper.
Mr Milne said: “It is this defendant claiming to be Mark Kingston ordering Champagne hampers using Andy Carroll’s credit card.
“Andy Carroll was one of the people who was defrauded, whose credit details were used which he did not give authorisation.”
Defender James Tomkins, now at Crystal Palace, bought 25 bottles of Champagne and was later fleeced out of £30,000 in several transactions between December 18-21, 2014, the court heard.
Mr Milne said: “He is the man who described the man as having a wonky nose, an East End accent, athletic build and around 6ft.”
Mr Milne added: “It’s a funny nose that he has got.”
Ackerman, of Loughton, Essex, denies all of the allegations.
The trial continues.