Melanie Elizabeth Carroll, aged 42 of Bryn Rhos, Penywaun, pleaded guilty to 10 charges under the Trade Marks Act 1994 at Aberdare Magistrates’ Court.

The charges were brought against Carroll following an investigation by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Trading Standards team.

Rachel Smith, prosecuting on behalf of the Council, told the court that a police search warrant was executed at Carroll’s home on September 24th 2008.

A total of 33 items of designer branded clothing were seized from Carroll, namely Stone Island jackets and cardigans, Lacoste polo shirts and Lyle & Scott sweaters, jackets and polo shirts. These were subsequently handed over to the Council’s Trading Standards team for investigation as to whether they were genuine or counterfeit.

Specimen examples of the clothing were formally examined and confirmed as being counterfeit.

At interview, Carroll stated that she had purchased the items from an unidentified man who was selling them from the back of a van at Rheola market on 13th September. She claimed to have bought them as Christmas presents for her sons, daughters and husband, even though she had multiple items in identical colours and sizes and denied she was intending to sell them.

The Magistrates told Carroll that they considered this to be quite a serious offence. They imposed a fine of £500 for the first charge, with no separate penalty on the other nine charges. They also ordered Carroll to pay £433.48 costs and a victim surcharge of £15, bringing a total of £948.48, as well as forfeiture and destruction of all 33 items.

The 2008 Student of the Year Award was presented for the second year in a row to Richard Morgan of Penywaun.

Richard Morgan also won the Award for Best Tournament Hyung and 6 months free lessons for winning Gold at the Traditional Tang Soo Do International Championships in May.

Morgan Abraham won the Penywaun Class Award for highest placed Penywaun student in the 2008 International Tang Soo Do Federation Champions League. This was a series of 4 rounds over the year in which students of all ages and ranks, gained points by competing against each other for the top spot of League Champion. Morgan, who won all his
sparring bouts, just missed out on an overall 3rd place tie by a bonus point.

The class currently has limited vacancies for the special rate class for children 6-10yrs at the Penywaun Community Centre, on Sundays at 4.30-6pm and Wednesdays 7-8.30pm.

For details or to book a place, contact Sian Moran 07593556268 or 01639 710595 or e-mail sian.moran@tangsoodo.co.uk

The event is being held as part of a week of celebrations marking the 50th Anniversary of St Winifred’s Church, Penywaun.

Between 10am to 5pm.

All warmly welcome.

St Winifred’s Church is located opposite Penywaun Post Office.