In a significant victory for music fans and the live entertainment industry, a couple behind a multi-million-pound ticket touting scam has been ordered to pay back £3 million in illicit profits. As reported by the BBC, Maria Chenery-Woods and her husband, Mark Woods, face substantial prison time if the funds are not returned within the next three months.
The Scale of the Fraud
The Norfolk-based pair operated TQ Tickets Ltd, a sophisticated fraud mill that used dozens of stolen and fake identities to bypass purchase limits on primary ticket sites. By harvesting tickets for high-profile artists including Ed Sheeran and Lady Gaga, the couple was able to resell them on secondary platforms—such as Viagogo and StubHub—at vastly inflated prices.
Following their initial sentencing in 2024, a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Leeds Crown Court has now laid out the financial consequences of their scheme. The Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) revealed that the pair actually profited to the tune of over £9.8 million, a debt that will remain on their record until paid in full.
The Court’s Ultimatum
The court has set strict deadlines for the repayment:
Maria Chenery-Woods: Currently serving a four-year prison sentence, she must pay £995,279 within weeks or face an additional four years behind bars.
Mark Woods: Ordered to pay £2 million by April. Failure to meet this deadline will result in a prison sentence of seven years and six months.
A Warning to Touts
During the original trial, the jury heard from industry heavyweights, including Ed Sheeran’s manager, Stuart Camp. They described the "extensive measures" taken to protect fans from the predatory tactics used by TQ Tickets Ltd.
Det Ch Insp Jon Hodgeon of the YHROCU noted that the couple used "dishonest tactics to exploit people." National Trading Standards coordinator Mike Andrews added that the ruling "shows that crime does not pay," as the criminals are forced to surrender the vast profits generated by their illegal activity.
For music lovers, the ruling serves as a landmark moment in the ongoing battle against secondary ticketing exploitation.
