Legal News

Gateshead Council has prosecuted a local woman who sold counterfeit fashion goods from a public house and online.

Faye McCann from Ryton, Gateshead first came to the attention of Trading Standards in November 2015, when officers received a tip off that suspected counterfeit goods were to be sold at an event at the Half Moon Inn in Ryton.

Trading Standards officers accompanied by police offers visited the sale in the pub’s function room, where they found a large quantity of branded designer goods being offered for sale by McCann – including handbags, purses, clothing, perfume, footwear and earphones by brands such as Vivienne Westwood, Michael Kors, Versace, Chanel, Tommy Hilfiger and Hugo Boss.

All of the products – totalling more than 260 items – were seized by Trading Standards, on suspicion that they were counterfeit. A number of the seized items were then sent away to their respective trademark holders for close examination – all were confirmed to be counterfeit.

However, despite knowing she was being formally investigated for selling counterfeit goods, McCann continued to sell her products online.

When Trading Standards Officers checked her Facebook page a month later, they found a wide variety of counterfeit products still being openly sold by her, with new items having been added that day.

Trading Standards Officers executed a warrant to enter McCann’s home address in Ryton, where they seized a substantial quantity of counterfeit clothing, handbags, perfume, footwear, jewellery, watches and other goods.

McCann was later interviewed under caution and agreed that more than 400 counterfeit items seized by Trading Standards belonged to her.

She then refused to answer all questions relating to her involvement in the sale or supply of the counterfeit goods.

At Gateshead Magistrates’ Court, McCann pleaded guilty to 12 counts of possession of counterfeit products with intent to supply.

She was sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment and 150 hours of unpaid work – and was ordered to pay costs of £500 and a victim surcharge of £80.

After sentencing, Service Director of Development, Transport and Public Protection, Anneliese Hutchinson, said:

“I’m pleased that the magistrates have taken this case so seriously.

“Counterfeit goods are never what they seem – they are almost always poor quality copies and never the good deal they appear to be.
“We owe it to unsuspecting customers – as well as the producers of genuine goods – to take any reports of counterfeit sales seriously.

“I hope this serves as a warning to anyone dealing in counterfeit goods that it can lead to serious consequences – that includes prosecution and the confiscation of money, homes, vehicles or anything else bought with the proceeds of illegal activity.”

Duncan Lewis Criminal Lawyers

Duncan Lewis criminal lawyers can advise at any stage of a public protection offence, including charges involving selling counterfeit goods, selling illicit alcohol or tobacco products, weights and measures issues, mislabelling offences, food hygiene breaches, selling restricted items to minors and breaches of health and safety regulations.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and in most major cities – and Duncan Lewis can advise on police raids and premises inspections by Trading Standards or local authority fraud teams.

For expert legal advice on public protection offences, call Duncan Lewis criminal lawyers on 0333 772 0409.

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