Ticket touts jailed after Ed Sheeran’s manager gives evidence in landmark trial

The pair re-sold tickets at a profit for numerous high-profile events (Cathal McNaughton/PA)

Two internet touts who re-sold tickets worth millions of pounds to high profile events like Ed Sheeran and Adele concerts have been jailed.

Peter Hunter and David Smith – who traded as Ticket Wiz and BZZ – were found guilty of fraudulent trading following a landmark trial which ended earlier this month.

Hunter was jailed for four years and his husband Smith was jailed for two-and-a-half years on Monday.

The pair used multiple identities and computer bots to buy tickets, selling them on secondary ticketing websites, prosecutors told Leeds Crown Court.

On Monday a judge was told by prosecutors that, between 2010 and 2015, BZZ sold tickets with a face value of more than £17 million for more than £26 million – a gain of £9.3 million.

Sheeran’s manager Stuart Camp gave evidence in the pair’s long-running trial, telling jurors they had decided to take a stand against touts after spotting £75 seats at a Sheeran charity gig on sale for £7,000.