Aberdare Woman Fined For Counterfeit Clothing
February 19, 2009 « Previous Page — Next Page »
A woman from Aberdare has been ordered to pay almost £1,000 for possessing counterfeit designer clothing with the purpose of supplying them to others.
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.
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