SINGAPORE — Three men who used fake passes to bring unsuspecting fans into English singer Ed Sheeran’s two sold-out concerts here last month for a fee were sentenced to four weeks’ jail each on Tuesday (Nov 28).

Briton Martin Joseph Keane, 60, got fake “All Area Access” passes to Sheeran’s concert from one Paul Cosgrove and brought fans in on Nov 11, charging between S$250 and S$300 for each person. Once inside the show venue at Singapore Indoor Stadium, Keane would take the passes back from these fans and head out to bring more fans in.

It was not mentioned how much he earned that night, but the following day, he repeated his scam and pocketed S$1,000 from four concertgoers. He split the takings with Cosgrove and they partially used the loot to buy drinks and pay for accommodation, Deputy Public Prosecutor Tow Chew Chi told the court. He was caught by security staff when he tried to make a third run with three fans.

Cosgrove, 56, an Australian, was charged on Tuesday for the part he allegedly played.

On Nov 12, New Zealanders Scott Fabian Antony Penk, 34; and Michael Stanton Hardgrave, 30, ran a similar racket, though it was not stated how they got these fake passes. The duo pocketed S$1,050 from bringing seven fans in that night.

Noting that the trio’s actions were premeditated and their monetary gain from the offence, DPP Tow argued for a four-week jail term to be imposed on each of them.

The men, who did not have lawyers, said they were sorry and ashamed of their actions.

Penk said his actions were “really stupid” and he was “very embarrassed”, adding that his time in re-mand made him “think about what’s important in life, and that is honesty”.

But District Judge Hamidah Ibrahim retorted: “You don’t have to reach 34 years of age to realise that honesty is important.”

They could each have been jailed up to four years and/or fined.

A fourth person, Luke Simon McKay, a 49-year-old Briton, was charged alongside the trio earlier this month and is still assisting with further investigations. He returns to court on Dec 8, while Cosgrove’s case will be mentioned again on Dec 5.