Trading standards investigation results in custodial sentence for offender

A man who admitted counterfeiting offences after an investigation by Shropshire Council’s trading standards service was today (Friday 2 September 2011) given a custodial sentence by magistrates.

Christopher Lintott Jones of Market Lane, Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to offences in relation to supplying, and possession for supply, of counterfeit T-shirts and DVDs, including pornographic material.

The 41-year-old entered guilty pleas at an earlier hearing on a number of charges under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and the Video Recordings Act 1984. At Shrewsbury Magistrates Court today (Friday 2 September 2011) he received a 12-week custodial sentence.

Mr Mike Davies, prosecuting for Shropshire Council, told the court that Jones’ stall at Shrewsbury Sunday Market was raided by trading standards officers last year following a consumer complaint that counterfeit DVDs were being sold.

The officers observed more than 70 counterfeit T-shirts on open display, including garments branded with Henley, G-Star, Timberland and adidas trade marks. Jones was also found to have a box of 180 DVDs under the stall, which included five copies of Toy Story 3, a film which had only received its world premiere a few days before, as well as Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang, and two titles from the Twilight film series. In addition, he was found to have in his possession a bag containing over 70 pornographic titles. All illegal goods were seized.

Mr Davies estimated Jones’ potential profit on the T-shirts to be more than £750 and the loss to the legitimate clothing industry to be between £1,500 and £2,300. The DVDs represented a loss to the film industry of £1,380.

Frances Darling, Shropshire Council’s trading standards manager said: 

“This was Jones’ second offence of this nature within six years; this undoubtedly influenced the severity of the sentence, which sends a very strong message to the effect that economic crime is treated extremely seriously, and I hope that it will serve to deter others from following a similar path.”

Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for trading standards, said: 

“This is an excellent result for trading standards and illustrates the valuable work the service performs in protecting the public and legitimate traders of Shropshire.”