Ticket tout claims Liverpool FC 'permitted and contributed to what he was doing'

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He was subsequently said to have exchanged messages with Joseph Johnson, described as being "central to the business", before he exited his vehicle, approached the window and was handed the envelopes.This led to the matter being reported to Merseyside Police and James' dismissal from the club. But what is evident is that there was a clear business relationship between them that had started, at least, by 2016."Joseph Johnson was meanwhile said to have "used Lee Smith and Liam Rice", "friends and associates" of both him and Louis James, as well as his parents Angela and David Johnson and girlfriend Sian Woodyatt "by using their bank cards, with their knowledge, to obtain memberships and tickets".

Dominic Thomas said during his address on behalf of Joseph Johnson: "The dispute between Mr Joseph Johnson and the prosecution is not about whether he is a ticket tout. But, no, I was not dishonest."His case is that he believed that the football clubs, and Liverpool FC in particular, not only knew, not only understood, but also effectively permitted, and even on occasions contributed to, what he was doing."Mr Joseph Johnson's case is that the buyers of the tickets understood very well what it was that they were buying, which is to say, unofficial, unauthorised tickets.

As things went along, he admits that he got involved in buying and reselling match tickets."He denies that he was dishonest and that he was a fraudster. That is his case in a nutshell."Bernice Campbell, representing James Johnson, added: "He would say that he was a young lad who was employed by Liverpool FC.