A Norfolk family involved in ticket touting has been found guilty of fraudulent trading through their company, TQ Tickets Ltd, targeting high-profile music events, including Ed Sheeran concerts. Convicted for reselling tickets at inflated prices of up to 500% over face value on secondary platforms like Viagogo, the operation was led by Lynda Chenery, Mark Woods, Maria Chenery-Woods, and Paul Douglas. The scheme involved using numerous identities to buy tickets, significantly exploiting music fans’ passion.

The case, held at Leeds Crown Court, revealed the extensive fraudulent activities of the family, resulting in a £6.5 million reselling operation that took advantage of artists like Ed Sheeran and Little Mix. National Trading Standards, which led the investigation, highlighted this as a landmark case against exploitative secondary ticketing practices.

Ed Sheeran’s team, including his manager Stuart Camp, expressed satisfaction with the guilty verdicts, emphasizing the negative impacts of ticket touting on fans and the music industry. They hope the verdicts will set a precedent for preventing similar exploitative practices in the future.

Sentencing for the convicted individuals is pending, marking a significant step towards addressing fraudulent ticket reselling. This case contributes to broader efforts to ensure fair ticket distribution and protect consumers in the live entertainment sector.