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A con woman is facing a prison sentence after she was caught selling fake Glastonbury tickets to festival fans.
As the East Grinstead Courier reports, 34-year-old Christine Babb made over £23,000 from selling fraudulent tickets to the event - so in demand that they officially sold out in just 26 minutes this year.
The woman, of Farm Close East Grinstead, grew so notorious by claiming that she could use her music industry contacts to get fans cheap tickets, that Glasto boss Michael Eavis issued the statement: "Nobody called Christine Babb is either employed by Glastonbury Festival or has any tickets to sell for the Festival."
She appeared at Hammersmith Magistrates Court this week to plead guilty to 29 offences of fraud by misrepresentation.
“This defendant told her victims that she worked in the music industry and could get discounted tickets to various events including Glastonbury Festival," said prosecutor Tom Gill. "There are 29 victims of this offence who paid for their tickets that they didn't receive. The Crown say that your sentencing powers are not sufficient."
Defending, Jyothi Somavarapu said that Babb suffered from borderline personality disorder, Crohn's disease and bulimia.
Around the time of the offence, from August 2013 - July last year, Glastonbury issued the following official statement:
"We would very much like you to be aware that there are people out there who will try and sell fake Glastonbury tickets to unsuspecting, willing and innocent potential purchasers. Photos on tickets, which we introduced ten years ago, should eliminate this to a very large extent. If you are offered a ticket it is unlikely to give you access to the Festival.
"The BBC will be covering even more of the Festival this year so please be content with the TV for now. Hopefully there will be many more years ahead when your chances of buying a ticket will increase. Thank you for supporting our Festival. Michael Eavis NB: Nobody called Christine Babb is either employed by Glastonbury Festival or has any tickets to sell for the Festival.
"PLEASE remember that you can only buy Glastonbury tickets through official sources and that this year’s Festival is entirely Sold Out. If you suspect someone is selling a Glastonbury ticket fraudulently, please contact [email protected] or report to Action Fraud: Website / Tel: 0300 123 2040"
Babb was released on unconditional bail to await sentence at Isleworth Crown Court on 12 May.
See the full line-up for Glastonbury 2015 below
Glastonbury 2015 takes place at Worthy Farm from 24 - 28 June, with headliners Foo Fighters and Kanye West confirmed, alongside the likes of Florence + The Machine, Suede, Patti Smith, Pharrell Williams, Wolf Alice, Father John Misty and many, many more.
Other rumoured headliners including Coldplay, Stone Roses, Fleetwood Mac, Blur, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Taylor Swift, Queen and more.
General admission tickets of cancelled, refunded and unpaid tickets go on re-sale from 9am on Sunday 19 April.
Tickets are priced at £220 with a £5 booking fee and £7.50 postage per order. The exact amount of tickets that are going on re-sale will not be announced, but is certain to be very limited and sell out quickly.
However, you'll only be able to do so if you've registered. For Glastonbury tickets and information, visit here.
