A FRAUDSTER who sold a Manchester United football shirt bearing the forged signature of David Beckham on the internet auction site eBay has been sent to jail.

Mark Pullen, 34, also had in his possession fake signatures for United midfielder Roy Keane and boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

Bournemouth Magistrates heard how Pullen, 34, of Dorset Road in Christchurch, advertised the fake on eBay along with a forged letter of authenticity.

But in 2002 Manchester United tipped off trading standards officers, who snapped up the £140 shirt and sent it to the club, who confirmed the signature was a fake.

In 2003 police and officers from Dorset County Council's trading standards department swooped on Pullen's Soccerauctions business, which had been traced to a flat in Terrace Road, Bournemouth.

Among the items they confiscated were a computer, practice samples of footballer Roy Keane's signature and fake letters and letterheads with counterfeit signatures, including boxer Muhammad Ali's autograph.

Pullen, who absconded during a break at his last hearing when he was due to be sentenced, pleaded guilty to supplying a signed shirt to which a false description had been applied, and selling a letter and shirt with a logo likely to be mistaken for a registered trade mark.

Head of regulatory services at Dorset County Council Bill Jaggs said: "With the continued growth of internet sales the trading standards service is increasingly required to follow up justified complaints relating to website sales and has been successful in taking action to stop those responsible.

"Dishonest traders and individuals who think they can earn a fast buck will be tracked down where our investigations demand it. A premium price was being charged in this case for an item that has been fraudulently misdescribed and it is vital that such cases do not go unpunished."

District Judge Roger Ede sentenced Pullen to three months in jail and ordered him to pay costs of £1,725.

"This was a professional endeavour on your part in the way it was being carried out," he said.

"Not only did people not get what they thought they were getting, but it also undermines other legitimate trade in these articles."

First published: July 14, 2005