In a major win for music fans and the live entertainment sector, a couple at the center of a large-scale ticket touting operation has been ordered to return £3 million made from illegal ticket resales. According to a BBC report, Maria Chenery-Woods and her husband, Mark Woods, now face the prospect of lengthy prison sentences if they fail to repay the money within three months.
The Norfolk-based duo ran TQ Tickets Ltd, a highly organised operation that relied on dozens of stolen and fabricated identities to get around ticket-buying limits on official platforms. Through this method, they snapped up tickets for major global acts such as Ed Sheeran and Lady Gaga, later reselling them on secondary marketplaces including Viagogo and StubHub at hugely marked-up prices.
After being sentenced in 2024, the couple recently appeared before Leeds Crown Court for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, where the financial scale of their activities was fully outlined. The Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) disclosed that the scheme generated more than £9.8 million in profit, a sum that will remain owed until it is fully recovered.
The court has imposed firm repayment conditions on both individuals. Maria Chenery-Woods, who is currently serving a four-year jail term, has been ordered to repay £995,279 within weeks or face an extra four years in prison. Her husband, Mark Woods, must return £2 million by April, with failure to do so carrying a sentence of seven years and six months.
During the initial trial, testimony was heard from key figures within the music industry, including Ed Sheeran’s manager, Stuart Camp. The jury was told about the “extensive measures” taken to shield fans from the exploitative practices used by TQ Tickets Ltd.
Commenting on the case, Det Ch Insp Jon Hodgeon of the YHROCU said the couple employed “dishonest tactics to exploit people.” National Trading Standards coordinator Mike Andrews also welcomed the outcome, stating that the ruling “shows that crime does not pay,” as those responsible are forced to give up the enormous profits earned unlawfully.
For concertgoers and industry stakeholders alike, the judgment marks a significant step forward in tackling the abuse of secondary ticketing and protecting fans from inflated prices.
