On 19th May 2011, a Birmingham based market trader was sentenced to pay over £12,000 by Swansea Crown Court as part of a Proceeds of Crime application. The defendant was ordered to pay the fine within six months or face an eight month prison sentence.
31 year old Mark Andrew Jones, aged 31years had previously pleaded guilty to seven offences under the Trades Marks Act 1994 at Neath Magistrates Court for selling over 300 fake designer watches at Neath’s annual fair in September 2009.
Speaking after the case, Principal Officer Trading Standards Steve Adie said, “I am pleased with this successful result. Those that benefit financially from criminal activity need to be dealt with. It is our job to protect the public and legitimate businesses from this type of criminality”.
“Counterfeit goods are notoriously poor quality and very often these days are dangerous. “If anyone suspects they have bought counterfeit goods or they know someone who sells them, they can speak to someone in confidence on 0808 1566762”
