eBay con pair escape jail

Donna Battams, 46, and Leonard Parkhouse, 41, were each given four-month prison sentences suspended for 12 months when they appeared in court on Wednesday.

They were at an earlier court hearing on July 16 where they both pleaded guilty to three charges of fraud by false representation dating from February.

Prosecutor Peter Bolwell said both Parkhouse and Battams, of St Marks Close, Bexhill, tried to sell PlayStation computer games, perfume and other goods on the internet auction site eBay, even though they did not own any of the items.

Both defendants asked for 11 other similar offences to be taken into consideration.

Mr Bolwell said eBay had since refunded all of the customers who lost money.

Aiden Harvey, defending Parkhouse, said: "The offences were motivated by need rather than greed. They needed funds to leave the area because people were out to get them.

"They have both carried out numerous transactions on eBay in the past and delivered goods."

Sam Wingfield, defending Battams, said: "Both were trying to get money to get away from the area because of the position they were in."

Deputy district judge Mark Jabbit also gave both Battams and Parkhouse a 12-month community order and ordered 50 court costs.