Legal News

A wholesaler who supplied counterfeit and potentially dangerous electrical items has been prosecuted by Ealing Council.

Mobile phone accessories wholesaler The Fone Shop Parts Ltd of Charles House, Bridge Road, Southall and its sole director, Mr Rajinder Singh Chopra pleaded guilty to offences under the Trade Marks Act (TMA) 1994 and Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations (EESR) 1994.

At Isleworth Crown Court, the company was ordered to pay a total of £17,730.48, which included the council’s costs of £10,730.48, plus a victim surcharge.

Chopra received a suspended prison sentence and was ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid community work and pay a victim surcharge.

A confiscation order to the value of approximately £43,000 that had previously been ordered against Mr Chopra was taken into account during sentencing. The order is to be paid on or before 24 November, the date of the enforcement hearing.

Chopra and the company were prosecuted after more than 4,000 items, with a street value worth more than £20,000, were seized by Ealing Council’s Trading Standards officers, during an operation carried out early in 2014.

Accompanied by police officers, Trading Standards officers entered the premises – located in an area renowned for the distribution of unsafe and counterfeit goods – for the purposes of inspection, using powers under the Trade Marks Act 1994.

Along with counterfeit parts, batteries and protective covers for mobile phones infringing trademark logos such as Apple, Samsung, Nokia, HTL, LG, Sony, Blackberry, Warner Bros (Batman and Superman) and Monster Energy, officers also found evidence of illegal importation – as well as other potentially dangerous electrical goods.

Money found on site was seized by the police – and Chopra was arrested as a result of the raid.

After sentencing, Cabinet Member for Safety, Culture and Community Safety, Councillor Ranjit Dheer, said:

“This prosecution demonstrates how successful our operations with partners such as the police and other boroughs have been in this area, helping us to keep fake and unsafe goods from flooding the market.

“We are committed to guarding the public from dishonest traders who deliberately flout the law – and Mr Chopra has received an exacting punishment for his illegal actions.”

Inspector Winnard from Ealing Police added:

“This is an excellent result – this operation illustrates what can be achieved when partners such as Ealing Council and Ealing Police work together, sharing skills and expertise.

“In this instance, thousands of counterfeit and potentially unsafe goods have been prevented from reaching unsuspecting members of the public.

“This sentence should serve as a warning to those persons willing to engage in similar acts.”

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