Grasping BA Boss Banged-Up For Ticket Swindle

A greedy British Airways ticket manager, who masterminded a £300,000 scam to rip-off last-minute customers, has been jailed for three years.

Mark Smith, 36, (pictured) of Eleanors Close, Thundridge, Ware, Hertfordshire bought-up cheaper advance flight tickets – changed the dates – then sold them on for a healthy profit.

He even set-up a company in 2007 to handle the sales and used the money to help buy a five-bedroom house with hot tub, a yacht and cars.

Smith was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court of conspiracy to defraud, plus four counts of transferring criminal property, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act.

British Airways alerted police in May 2008 to irregularities in relation to the purchase of their flight tickets.

“Mark Smith abused his trusted position to defraud his employers and mislead the general public who purchased tickets from him in good faith,” said Detective Inspector Barry Slade.

“This conviction shows that police will work closely with an airline to detect this type of crime and bring those responsible before the court.”