Men admit to £9,000 phone con

FRAUDSTERS fleeced a mobile phone company out of £9,000 as part of a scam, a court heard.

Alan Dobson abused his position working for Link telesales, part of Dixons, to set up the fraud with his friends.

Newcastle Crown Court yesterday heard how he would sell contracts for mobile phones to friends, then urge them to cancel within the 14 days allowed.

Dobson, 23, of Windermere Crescent, Hebburn, would then re-sell the returned phones at knock-down prices to pals.

The court heard how Link, a mobile phone telesales arm of Dixons, lost out on commission.

Dobson admitted two charges of conspiracy to obtain money by deception and obtaining property by deception.

He was given a nine-month jail term, suspended for 12 months, with 12 months' supervision and 150 hours of unpaid work.

His pals David Arthur, 21, of Markington Drive, Sunderland, and twins Paul and Robert Hanson, 22, of Fallstone, Washington, all admitted conspiracy to obtain money by deception.

They were each ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £250 costs.

Defence barristers said all four were hard-working men who had never been in any trouble before.

Dobson has since found work with a mobile phone company.

[via Shields Gazette]