Community Order For Supplying Counterfeit Football Kits

A Runcorn man who was selling counterfeit football clothing from his Caeathro holiday home has been ordered to wear a tagging device for the next four months. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In a case brought by Gwynedd Council’s Trading Standards team against Michael Spencer of 20 Betchworth Crescent, Runcorn he was sentenced at Caernarfon Magistrate’s Court on 8 August. The 45-year-old was given a community order and will have to wear a tagging device and be confined to his home in Runcorn between the hours of 7pm and 7am for the next four months. He was also ordered to pay the Council’s legal costs of £1,222.88 and a further £60 victim surcharge. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The magistrates also ordered that he sign a forfeiture order after he pleaded guilty to six charges of supplying football kits which contravened the provisions of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the Trade Marks Act 1994. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following the receipt of intelligence that Mr Spencer was selling a large quantity of football clothing from his holiday home in Caeathro, Gwynedd via his Facebook page, a covert operation was carried out by Gwynedd Council’s Trading Standards Unit, where he supplied a counterfeit Liverpool football kit to an undercover enforcement officer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Analysis by the Trade Mark holder proved the kit to be counterfeit and in a joint operation with North Wales Police a further 261 assorted counterfeit New Balance, Nike and Adidas football kits with an estimated retail value of £15,000 were seized. Mr Spencer gave a “no comment” answer to all questions put to him, including a refusal to say where he got the clothing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

John Eden Jones from Gwynedd Council Trading Standards Unit said: “The sale and supply of counterfeit or fake clothing is often seen as a victimless crime however the quality of counterfeit clothing is often inferior and in some cases non-compliant with fire safety regulations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As a Council, we have a duty to protect not only the interests and safety of Gwynedd residents but also the economic interests of the businesses who legally sell such products.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Dafydd Meurig, Cabinet Member for Trading Standards, added: “Combating the
supply of all counterfeit products, whether it is clothing, tobacco or electrical equipment continues to be one of the priorities of the Trading Standards Service in Gwynedd. This case should serve as a warning to those involved in the supply and sale of illegal clothing via Facebook and other social media sites that appropriate action will be taken against offenders.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If anyone has any information relating to the sale of any illegal goods you can report the matter in confidence by calling Gwynedd Council’s Trading Standards team on 01766 771000 or emailing: safmas@gwynedd.llyw.cymru ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​