Ed Sheeran tried to beat 'Norfolk ticket touting operation'

Statements from Sheeran’s manager Stuart Camp have been read at Leeds Crown Court at the trial of Lynda Chenery and Mark Woods, who are charged with fraudulent trading in relation to the activities of the firm TQ Tickets Ltd.

The company operated by two Norfolk couples used multiple identities, some of which were fake, to buy up large amounts of tickets to resell on secondary platforms.

Two Norfolk couples are accused of buying to large numbers of tickets to sell on at vastly inflated prices (Image: Getty Images)

Maria Chenery-Woods, 54, of Dickleburgh, and Paul Douglas, 56, from Pulham Market, who referred to themselves as the Ticket Queen and the Ticket Boy, have pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading.

Their respective spouses, Mark Woods, 59, and Lynda Chenery, 51, who is also Chenery-Woods’ sister, are on trial having denied the charges.

The jury were told about the extensive measures Sheeran’s management had put in place to combat touts by having strict pricing policy aimed at “keeping ticket prices accessible for as many people as possible”.

Mr Camp said the demand for tickets to see the multi-million selling Framlingham-raised singer was extremely high and they could be sold at very high prices but “we don’t want our tickets to be beyond some people”.

Tickets to see Ed Sheeran were sold at more than double the face value, the court was told (Image: PA)

He and promoter Stuart Galbraith had set prices for the singer’s 2018 UK stadium tour at £80 and £50 in London and £75 and £45 outside the capital.

Concert-goers were warned to take ID and proof of purchase and warned they’d be refused entry with resold tickets, he added.

In his statement, Mr Galbraith said despite this around 6,300 replacement tickets had been sold to those who had tried to gain entry using unauthorised resold tickets. 

Prosecutors have previously said TQ Tickets Ltd had sold dozens of tickets for the tour at more than double the face value.

The trial continues.