Fraudster jailed for "vile" offences

Ashley Martin Taylor (pictured) established his own company, AMT Events Limited, trading out of Griffins Court off London Road, Newbury.
He cheated clients out of tens of thousands of pounds, causing one honest entrepreneur’s business to fail.
The 27-year-old, who lived at Turnfields, Thatcham, even swindled a £10,000 luxury holiday in Barbados for himself - then had the nerve to email the firm he duped to ask for a cash advance, Reading Crown Court heard.
But among the most “vile” of his offences, a judge said, was cheating young couples planning their dream wedding reception at Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre.
32,949.Taylor, educated at John O Gaunt School in Hungerford and Newbury College, admitted five charges of conspiracy to defraud and two of theft at an earlier hearing.
He denied one count of fraudulent trading and this was left on file.
Damian van Duyvenbode, prosecuting, said: “A large number of fraudulent transactions were undertaken by the defendant between May 2011 and August 2013 in several guises. He was buying and selling high end hospitality tickets for major sporting and leisure events for corporate and individual customers.”
The events included Wimbledon tennis tournaments, Cheltenham races, a Jay-Z concert and the UEFA Euro 2012 cup final in Kiev, the court heard.
Taylor would pockets tens of thousands of pounds for tickets which he never sent, and invented an imaginary associate who he would blame when customers demanded compensation, said Mr van Duyvenbode. ”
In other instances, the court heard, Taylor paid for tickets by stolen credit card or simply failed to make promised bank transfers.
As the net closed and his business folded, Taylor sought employment with Global Engage Ltd in Kindlington, Oxfordshire.
There, said Mr van Duyvenbode, “he tried to borrow money but the company refused.”
See tomorrow's Newbury Weekly News for the full story.