BBC · Nov 25, 2016
West Ham Christmas hamper conman jailed
Stephen Ackerman was found guilty of 18 counts of fraud in OctoberA conman who defrauded Premier League footballers out of thousands of pounds has been jailed for four years.
Stephen Ackerman targeted West Ham players and staff including then manager Sam Allardyce and England striker Andy Carroll.
The 48-year-old, of Loughton, Essex, was found guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court of 18 counts of fraud totalling more than £61,000 in October.
Judge David Radford said Ackerman was "utterly deceitful and dishonest".
Ackerman visited West Ham's east London training ground to sell the club's players and staff luxury Christmas hampers, using the pseudonym Mark Kingston in December 2014.