Burnley man took money for bogus Clarets season tickets (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

Burnley man took money for bogus Clarets season tickets

9:34am Friday 6th November 2009

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A youth football coach started a Clarets season ticket scam because he owed cash to loan sharks, a court was told.

Joseph Licastri, 45, took about £1,500 given to him to buy tickets and gave it straight to the people he owed £13,000.

He claimed the loan sharks, whom he had borrowed money from to keep his ailing property business going under, had been threatening his family.

Licastri's three victims were two friends, David Allen and David Barker, and the mother of a boy he coaches, Michelle Beardswell.

He also targeted a burger van parked near Turf Moor, pretending to be acting for the landowners and demanding £500 in rent, Burnley Magistrates heard.

The defendant was yesterday given a community order with 80 hours unpaid work, after admitting three thefts to the tune of £1,984 and one count of fraud. He must pay £85 costs.

After the hearing Licastri, a father-of-two who used to live in a £500,000 house but is now staying in a hostel on Elizabeth Street, Burnley, spoke of his shame and embarrassment over what he had done.

He said: "Hopefully, people will forgive and forget, give me another chance and let me get on with my life."

Hilary Rees, prosecuting, told the court when Burnley FC was promoted to the premier division, Mr Allen asked the defendant if he could get a season ticket and gave him £510. He never got it.

Mr Barker had been told by Mr Allen that the defendant was getting season tickets and handed over £440, including £10 as a thank you.

When he discovered other supporters were getting their tickets, he went to the ticket office at Burnley FC, but they could find no trace of him having applied.

The victim had to buy his own season ticket.

Mrs Rees said Mrs Beardswell's eldest son played in a football team run by the defendant and when Burnley got promoted she asked him to get a season ticket. She gave him £534.

She also found there was no trace of her details in the ticket office.

Mrs Beardswell was not able to afford a ticket after the defendant took her cash.

The hearing was told when Licastri was arrested and interviewed by police he said he had been going to get the tickets but the loan sharks put pressure on him and the temptation was too much.

Mrs Rees said: "These are mean offences because the defendant knew these people and it’s a breach of trust."

Nick Dearing, for Licastri, said he had now lost his good name and respect in local football.

He said: "He has let himself down and he knows it reflects badly on him and his wider family."

Outside court, Licastri, who coaches under 15s in Burnley and used to play for Oldham and Huddersfield, told how the collapse of his business had cost him his home and his wife had left him.

He said: "I have lost everything. After today it can only get better. It can't get any worse."

Licastri added he was hoping to borrow money off his mother to pay back his victims.

He vowed to carry on coaching and plans to be at sessions tomorrow Saturday as usual.

He said: "I am going to have to face them because I love those kids but I won't be looking forward to Saturday morning."

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