Mark
02-02-05, 01:09 PM
A MOTHER raising funds to buy her children Christmas presents sold a non-existent carton of Homer Simpson's favourite brew Duff Beer three times on eBay, a court has been told.
Tara Edith Woodford, 28, pleaded guilty in the Mackay Magistrates Court in north Queensland to three charges of dishonestly gaining money by false pretences.
Police prosecutor Gavin Burnett told the court Woodford was paid a total of $1951 by three separate buyers after advertising the bogus carton of Duff beer on www.eBay.com.au.
Duff beer is the brew enjoyed by Homer Simpson and his friends in the animated US television series The Simpsons.
Australian breweries in the mid-1990s released their own versions of Duff beer until legal action was taken by the creators of The Simpsons and the Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.
Duff beer is now a collector's item and cartons can sell for as much as $1000 on eBay, while one empty and damaged can was for sale today for $15.
"I know on eBay people are paying exorbitant prices for the things," National Beer Can Collectors Club treasurer Lorraine Gledhill told AAP today.
The Mackay court was told yesterday Woodford advertised her bogus Duff beer three times and sold it for $576, $775.30 and $600 respectively.
The sales took place on November 29, December 3 and December 15 last year.
Buyers paid into Woodford's bank account but when they did not receive the beer they contacted police, who arrested Woodford on January 14.
The court was told Woodford was caught because she used her correct name, home address and email address on the eBay site.
Her solicitor, Phillip Moore, said she committed the scam to buy Christmas presents and clothes for her four children.
Woodford was placed on probation for 18 months and ordered to reimburse the money and to undergo counselling.
SOURCE (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12124372-29277,00.html)
Tara Edith Woodford, 28, pleaded guilty in the Mackay Magistrates Court in north Queensland to three charges of dishonestly gaining money by false pretences.
Police prosecutor Gavin Burnett told the court Woodford was paid a total of $1951 by three separate buyers after advertising the bogus carton of Duff beer on www.eBay.com.au.
Duff beer is the brew enjoyed by Homer Simpson and his friends in the animated US television series The Simpsons.
Australian breweries in the mid-1990s released their own versions of Duff beer until legal action was taken by the creators of The Simpsons and the Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.
Duff beer is now a collector's item and cartons can sell for as much as $1000 on eBay, while one empty and damaged can was for sale today for $15.
"I know on eBay people are paying exorbitant prices for the things," National Beer Can Collectors Club treasurer Lorraine Gledhill told AAP today.
The Mackay court was told yesterday Woodford advertised her bogus Duff beer three times and sold it for $576, $775.30 and $600 respectively.
The sales took place on November 29, December 3 and December 15 last year.
Buyers paid into Woodford's bank account but when they did not receive the beer they contacted police, who arrested Woodford on January 14.
The court was told Woodford was caught because she used her correct name, home address and email address on the eBay site.
Her solicitor, Phillip Moore, said she committed the scam to buy Christmas presents and clothes for her four children.
Woodford was placed on probation for 18 months and ordered to reimburse the money and to undergo counselling.
SOURCE (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12124372-29277,00.html)