Man sold fake TITP passes and posed as security

Paul Reidy, 23, admitted selling the bands to people that he claimed would get them in to the VIP section of the festival.

The bands were fake and he posed as a security guard to let people in through a staff entrance at Balado, Kinross, last July.

He even told one friend that Geoff Ellis, the organiser of T in the Park had given him the tickets to sell.

But, Reidy was caught when he was spotted allowing people in and it was found out that he was not part of the security staff.

Reidy, of Bathgate, West Lothian, pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to selling wristbands totaling £10,180.

After selling a number of fake wristbands and before posing as security at the music festival, Reidy was caught and arrested at the Fort Shopping Centre in Glasgow’s east end in April 2012.

He admitted to officers that he had been selling wristbands and claimed that the people he sold them to already had tickets and the bands would allow them to access the VIP area.

Reidy said he planned to allow those with the fake wristbands entry to the VIP area while acting with others in his security post.

He was detained with another person to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court the next day and a media release was sent out asking those who had purchased a band from Reidy to come forward.

Reported

The court heard Reidy was at his barber Darren Boyle’s shop in Bathgate at the start of last year and heard that Mr Boyle was getting married that September.

Procurator fiscal depute Ruth Ross-Davie said Reidy told his barber he was selling tickets for the music festival for £200.

She said: “Darren Boyle believed this to be a good idea for his stag and also his fiance’s hen weekend.”

Reidy returned to the shop in February with a number of wristbands in exchange for £2,800.

He later told Mr Boyle to go to a particular gate at the festival and he and his friends would get access. On seeing the media release Mr Boyle realised his bands were fake.

Ms Ross-Davie also said Alexander Fleming had put a message on his Facebook page asking if any of his friends knew of anybody selling tickets and was put in touch with Reidy through a mutual friend.

He met Reidy in Airdrie in March 2012 and paid £480 for four wristbands.

Ms Ross-Davie added: “At first Alexander Fleming and his girlfriend were not convinced that the wristbands were genuine however the accused told them that he was high up in security and that Geoff Ellis -the organiser of T in the Park – had given him the wristbands.”

The court heard Reidy also duped Megan Thomson from Wishaw who bought wristbands from him.

She found Reidy’s Facebook page and knew him from going to a club where he worked.

Miss Thomson bought a number of wristbands for her and her friends handing over a total of £5,100.

Laura Martin from Livingston – who had paid £1000 for five wristbands from Reidy – reported the matter to the police after seeing the media release only days after her purchase.

Posed as security

Reidy then went to Balado on July 6, 2012 and posed as a security guard, wearing a high viz vest.

Those in charge of security confirmed he was not an employee after a number of girls were seen trying to get access with a blue wristband.

He was taken to a police office and charged with fraud.

Defence lawyer Peter Mullin told the court he gained nothing from his actions but was due to receive some money.

Sheriff Sam Cathcart deferred sentence until a later date and continued Reidy’s bail.

Last week Reidy was cleared of trying to rape his ex girlfriend, glamour model Louise Meighan.

She hit out when he walked free from Hamilton Sheriff Court after an eight day trial.

It was reported that Miss Meighan, 33, said she was “gobsmacked” and had “lost faith in the justice system”.