DISGRACED former
England boss Sam Allardyce told a court today how he was conned in a
£60,000 Christmas “hampers and champers” scam.
Allardyce, 62, was fleeced out of £270 after paying for six bottles of wine and six bottles of champagne while in charge of West Ham in December 2014.
Alamy
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Last month Allardyce left the England job after just 67 days following a newspaper sting that saw him advise undercover reporters on how to circumvent FA rules on third party ownership.
The football boss today gave evidence against alleged fraudster Stephen Ackerman via video-link from his holiday in Thailand.
Ackerman, 48, attended West Ham’s Chadwell Heath training ground to offer luxury goods under the alias “Mark Kingston” on December 12 2014.
Allardyce, who was managing West Ham at the time, said: “It was an impressive display, which normally happens.
“Many different people come in and around Christmas.”
Ackerman allegedly targeted a host of players and staff, including striker Andy Carroll, 27, who forked out
£2,500 for bogus goods before his account was raided for a further £10,500.
Former defender James Tomkins, 27, who is now at Crystal Palace, handed over £750 before another £30,000 disappeared in unauthorised transactions.
Defender Aaron Cresswell, 26, is also said to have forked out £180 while former full-back Joey O’Brien, who left the club after five years in July, is said to have lost £1,950 in total.
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The con, which took place the day before their 1-1 draw away at Sunderland, is said to have netted Ackerman £61,560.
Allardyce’s former assistant and newly appointed Hull City assistant coach Neil McDonald were also targeted by the scam.
Head of Medical Sport and Science Stijn Vandenbroucke also shelled out £1,130, the court heard.
Prosecutor Richard Milne said: “In the run-up to Christmas, West Ham, at their training ground, were visited by a well-dressed businessman.
“He had all the trappings of success.’ Jurors heard the players and staff at the club were offered ‘luxury hampers’ including Fortnum & Mason and Harrods champagne.
“He persuaded these players at West Ham United to buy that champagne – that is to pay for it – with the promise of delivery, of course in time for Christmas,’ continued the prosecutor.
“There was no champers and there were no hampers there for Christmas because nothing was delivered.”
Former boss Allardyce told jurors his former personal assistant had
his credit card and was asked to pay for the goods after he himself had
spent “about 10 minutes” chatting to the salesman.
“I was on my way out to training at the time,” he said.
“It was in the foyer. He had put his display on in that area which many firms did when they came in and around that time of year.”
Allardyce described the fraudster as a “smartly dressed white male” aged “around the 40 mark” – but he could not be as sure regarding the fraudster’s accent.
He said: “I can’t remember him having a huge cockney accent like many of my players at West Ham at the time.
“I wouldn’t say posh – well spoken.”
When asked if he ever received his champagne and wine, the smiling coach replied: “No, I didn’t.”
Jurors heard the fraudster “had ‘bigger fish to fry'” by accepting the payments on the chip and pin device he took along with him.
Action Images via Reuters
James Tomkins, who now plays for Crystal Palace, was also targeted by the fraudster
“The bigger fish to fry was the hope, and indeed the success, in persuading these players, well-paid players, and staff to use their bank cards, credit cards, in his chip and pin machine,” Milne said.
Ackerman is alleged to have reached out to trendy Essex nightspot Club 195 owner Scott Cummings to get in touch with Hammers representatives.
The club, popular with reality as well as football stars, named it’s VIP Suite after then-club captain Kevin
Nolan who is said to have lost £920 in the same scam.
Jurors were told “there will be no dispute that in fact it was this defendant who attended the club on 18 November”.
However, Ackerman is expected to deny giving the name “Mark Kingston” at the meeting.
“The Crown’s case is he was using the name Mark Kingston then,” said Mr Milne.
“The same name he used later, but there is no dispute it was Stephen Ackerman.”
Ackerman, of Loughton, Essex, denies 17 counts of fraud and one of possessing an article for use in fraud.
The trial continues.
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