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Go North East lost up to £33,000 from bus pass fraudster

May 23 2010 by Rob Kennedy, Sunday Sun

A FORGER thought faking bus passes and selling them at knockdown prices was just the ticket.

Paul Chambers created counterfeit bus tickets on his computer, and together with other fraudsters left a North East bus firm more than £25,000 out of pocket.

Go North East later realised they were being ripped off and had to recall hundreds of passes to sift out the fake ones.

Now Chambers, who sold the passes in Tyneside pubs to fund bets and his drink problem, has narrowly avoided being sent to jail after a judge suspended his prison sentence.

Judge Brian Forster, at Newcastle Crown Court, said: “This type of offence causes substantial inconvenience to the company and members of the public when the company have to suspend the operation of the tickets scheme.

“You should understand the court takes seriously this kind of offending and a custodial sentence is necessary to deter other people.”

Chambers, 47, of Coanwood Gardens, Gateshead, hit upon the scam last year.

The bus company were already being fleeced separately by others introducing forged passes into the system.

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