First eBay user prosecuted for artificially inflating prices

Paul Barratt, 39, was given 250 hours of community service and a £5,000 fine after he was found to be bidding on his own items.

Digital evidence investigators were able to confirm that he owned two different accounts, each containing the same contact details and IP address. He bidded on his own vehicles, mobile phones and cameras in order to instigate another bid and make higher profit.

This technique, also known as 'shill bidding', is deeply opposed by eBay. They welcomed the sentence and announced that £6 million was being spent every year to stop such activity.