A woman who sold fake tickets to see Oasis has been handed a 12-month community order after conning friends and acquaintances out of thousands of pounds.Rosie Slater, 33, admitted 11 counts of fraud by false representation after claiming she could secure tickets, including access to a VIP box at Wembley Stadium, for the band’s highly anticipated reunion shows.She was fined £40 and ordered to pay compensation of £776.98 to five victims, along with additional costs and a victim surcharge.
How the scam unfolded
The court heard Slater used WhatsApp groups to promote the fake tickets, offering them at £130 each. One victim even bought 15 tickets and invited others to join the groups, believing the offer was genuine.Several victims transferred money directly and made additional spending commitments, including booking non-refundable hotel stays for the concert dates.Prosecutor Kyle Padley told the court the claims were entirely false, adding: “It later came out the defendant was lying.”
‘Lie that spiralled out of control’
When questioned by police, Slater said she had initially acted with “good intent” but that the situation escalated beyond her control.Her defence lawyer, Simon Leech, argued that she did not spend the money lavishly, instead using it to pay off household debts, including council tax.However, magistrates noted the significant emotional and financial impact on victims, many of whom were left upset and out of pocket.
Exploiting trust and connections
According to investigators from Staffordshire Police, Slater leveraged her real-life connections to wealthy and well-known individuals to make the scam appear credible.Detective Constable David Stubbs said she had previously attended high-profile events, which helped convince victims she had genuine access to tickets.“She acted purely out of greed, exploiting her connections for personal gain,” he said, adding that some victims were used to attract further buyers.The case comes amid ongoing scrutiny of ticket sales practices. In 2024, the Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation into how tickets for Oasis concerts were sold.The regulator found that fans were not clearly informed about price changes and tiered ticket systems, with some “platinum” tickets sold at significantly higher prices without added benefits.Slater must now complete 30 rehabilitation activity days as part of her sentence. While some victims have received refunds, others remain out of pocket, particularly those who paid for travel and accommodation.
