Ticket tout couple must pay back almost £3 million or face jail

A couple who profited from ticket touting have been ordered to pay back nearly £3 million or face jail.

Maria Chenery-Woods and her husband Mark Woods, both of of Dickleburgh, Norfolk, were sentenced in 2024 for their involvement in a multi-million pound ticket scam which involved reselling tickets to concerts by leading acts such as Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, Gary Barlow, Liam Gallagher, Paul Weller and Little Mix.

Last week, at Leeds Crown Court, a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing ruled the pair must pay more than £2.9 million or face further sentences.

Detailed analysis by financial investigators at the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) found that together they profited to the tune of £9,815,351.52 which must be repaid in full.

Chenery-Woods was jailed four years in 2024 and disqualified from being a company director for 10 years, while Woods was given a two-year suspended sentence and disqualified from being a company director for four years. He was also ordered to undertake 250 hours of unpaid work and subjected to an electronic curfew for four months.

This followed an investigation by National Trading Standards’s eCrime Team, which is hosted by North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council.

They found the pair used multiple deceitful and fraudulent tactics to acquire tickets from reputable sellers including Ticketmaster, Eventim, SEE Tickets and ACS.

They used fake identities to resell the tickets at significantly higher prices on secondary ticketing sites such as Viagogo, Seatwave, Stubhub and Getmein.

The following Confiscation Orders were made at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday and Thursday (7/8 January):

Maria Chenery-Woods, aged 56, was ordered to pay £995,278.08 within three months or face a further four years in prison.  She is subject to a benefit figure of £7,842,799.35 which will remain a debt until paid in full

Mark Woods, aged 61, must pay £1,972,552.17 within three months or face seven years and six months in prison.  He is subject to a benefit figure of £1,972,552.17 which will remain a debt until paid in full.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Jon Hodgeon, YHROCU’s Head of Economic and Cyber Crime said: “Following their sentencing, our financial investigators stepped in and conducted a detailed analysis of the money made by Woods and Chenery-Woods. It found that, together, they benefited to the tune of many millions of pounds.

“This was all done by using dishonest tactics to exploit people, so I am pleased that they have now been ordered to repay this money or face more jail time. 

“The YHROCU will relentlessly pursue offenders using all available powers.”

Mike Andrews, National Coordinator, National Trading Standards eCrime Team, said:

“The husband and wife duo behind this fraud deliberately exploited fans’ trust and passion for live events – particularly live music concerts – to line their pockets to the tune of £10 million. Today’s ruling is good news for fans and shows that crime does not pay, as the criminals must pay back the vast profits they generated illegally while they continue to face time behind bars.” 

 “I would urge anyone concerned that a sale may be fraudulent to report it to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline by calling 0808 223 1133.” 

Matt Boxall, Head of Public Protection at City of York Council, said: “The work of the investigative team has been key to securing these very welcome confiscation orders. It shows that it is always worth reporting concerns to Trading Standards.

"They are determined that crime does not pay, that fans are not exploited, and that regulations around secondary ticketing are tightened to protect consumers’ hard-earned cash. Anyone concerned that a sale might be a scam should report it via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline 0808 223 1133.”