A NORTH EAST man has been prosecuted for selling fake exam certificates over the internet.

Martin Bowman, 26, was living in Darlington’s Wimbledon Close when he set up a website offering certificates bearing the trademarks of the AQA and OCR examination boards.

Darlington Borough Council’s trading standards team launched an investigation into the website - www.fakequalifications.co.uk - after receiving a complaint from the Government Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual).

The site was traced back to Bowman and he pleaded guilty at Darlington Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday, December 17) to using a registered trademark without consent.

Mitigating, Andrew Swan said Bowman had set up the website alongside a legitimate photo canvas sales site after he lost his job.

He said Bowman, who now lives in Collingwood Mews, Gosforth, wanted to make money rather than claim benefits, but most people who bought the certificates asked for refunds because they were such poor quality.

Mr Swan added that it was stated in the terms on the website that the certificates were intended for novelty use.

Magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report and Bowman is due back in court on January 14 for sentencing.