Hampshire County Council Trading Standards has welcomed a successful outcome in the courts, after three market traders were handed suspended sentences this week for selling counterfeit clothing at a Hampshire market.
Following a detailed investigation by the county’s Trading Standards officers, and working in collaboration with National Trading Standards, 36 year old Zeshan Azmat of London Road, High Wycombe; 39 year old Itafaq Zai of Abbotswood Way, Hayes, and 36 year old Hassan Ahmed of Kingsfisher Court, Woking were convicted of jointly participating in a fraudulent business contrary to the Fraud Act 2006.
They were found to have over 6,700 items of clothing - mainly counterfeits of well known brands such as Ralph Lauren polo shirts and Hollister t-shirts. The counterfeit items were sold on their market stall at Blackbushe Market near Yateley, between May and September 2012. The Market closed down earlier this year.
Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Roy Perry, said:
"One of the main focuses of the County Council’s Trading Standards Service is to protect consumers and local businesses from fraud. Our officers are active in many areas, and often work in collaboration with other agencies - pooling expertise and skills to detect and pursue those who seek to defraud Hampshire residents. This successful prosecution in collaboration with the National Trading Standards Board has helped to ensure that legitimate local businesses are supported, and very importantly, that consumers can buy with increased confidence.”
Lord Toby Harris, Chair, National Trading Standards, said:
“I am delighted our National Trading Standards Scambuster Team (Tri Region) has helped to secure these convictions – the counterfeit goods being sold by these criminals ripped off consumers and undermined legitimate local businesses. I would like to congratulate all those involved.”
Hampshire County Council Trading Standards, prosecuting the case, have now commenced confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to seek recover the money the trio have made from their crimes.
More information about Hampshire County Council Trading Standards can be found online
For more general enquiries regarding National Trading Standards please call 020 7025 7570 or e-mail nationaltradingstandards@grayling.com.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
About National Trading Standards
National Trading Standards delivers national and regional consumer protection enforcement. Its Board is made up of senior and experienced heads of local government trading standards from around England and Wales with an independent Chair. Its purpose is to protect consumers and safeguard legitimate businesses by tackling serious national and regional consumer protection issues and organised criminality and by providing a “safety net” to limit unsafe consumer goods entering the UK and protecting food supplies by ensuring the animal feed chain is safe.
For media inquiries please contact
Louise Payne, Communications Officer
Tel: 01962 846006
Email Louise.1.Payne@hants.gov.uk