A market trader from Wolverhampton has been ordered to pay nearly £12,000 following a confiscation order being made against him. This follows a sentence of 120 hours of unpaid work which was handed to him last November after he pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit Nike trainers at a market in Filton.
Surinder Singh, 40, originally appeared at Bristol Crown Court in November 2010 and was sentenced for 10 offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994 for possessing the counterfeit footwear for sale. He also asked for similar offences relating to 143 further pairs of counterfeit Nike trainers to be taken into consideration. He returned to the court on Tuesday 8th March in relation to a financial investigation against him under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Singh, who trades as SS Clare Shoes, of Fairview Road, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton was prosecuted as a result of a case brought by South Gloucestershire trading standards, whose officers targeted a market held at Filton Sport & Leisure Centre in December 2009.
Singh had been seen by a trading standards officer selling counterfeit Nike trainers at the market site on previous occasions during late 2009. His stall was targeted along with those of other sellers of suspected counterfeit products when the market was raided by police, trading standards and trade mark representatives. A total of 153 pairs of counterfeit Nike trainers were detained from Singh and he was arrested.
The financial investigation resulted in him being ordered to repay £5,855 derived from his criminal activity as well as full prosecution costs of £5,857. Mr Singh was told that he must pay the confiscation figure within four months or face being imprisoned for six months and still having to pay the stated sum.
Cllr Heather Goddard, executive member for communities, said: “This case is a stark warning to anyone selling counterfeit goods – not only could they be handed a criminal conviction, but may also end up having to pay back thousands of pounds under a confiscation order.”
Mark Pullin, trading standards and licensing manager, said: “The Proceeds of Crime Act is designed to ensure that crime does not pay and, in this case, Mr Singh has been ordered to repay a figure that represents his share of the equity in his house.”
Anyone wishing to report sales of counterfeit goods can do so in strictest confidence by calling Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.
Source: South Gloucestershire Council
