Wimbledon ticket forger is spared jail for job interview

An architect who sold counterfeit tickets for the Wimbledon tennis championships was spared prison so that he could attend a job interview today.

Bradley Roquette, 33, conned 20 fans and even a tout out of more than £6,000 in 18 months. Police set a trap after one buyer suspected he had bought fakes and alerted the tennis club.

Roquette, who advertised on listings website Gumtree, was nailed by an undercover policeman asking for a pair of Wimbledon tickets.

After his arrest by the officer from the Met's Operation Podium, a small counterfeit factory was discovered at his Croydon home. He had been scanning originals belonging to debenture pass-holders. Police also found bogus emails granting permission for the ticket sales, as well as car park passes and a laminator.

Yesterday Roquette pleaded guilty at Southwark crown court to five charges of fraud. His barrister said he had an interview for an architecture job today and asked the judge to suspend any prison sentence.

Roquette was given an eight-month sentence suspended for two years.