A Caerphilly woman has been handed a four month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, after she was prosecuted for selling counterfeit goods.
Lisa Davies, 33 of Dyfed Drive, Caerphilly was taken to court following an investigation by Caerphilly Trading Standards which found she was regularly travelling to Bristol Fruit Market to buy counterfeit stock, and then returning to sell and distribute the items in Caerphilly.
In November 2013, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards Officers, together with Gwent Police, raided Davies’ home.
Cash totalling £1,600, order books and in excess of 250 counterfeit items including clothes, jewellery and electronic items were found.
Davies appeared at Newport Magistrates’ Court on Friday June 20.
She pleaded guilty to the sale of counterfeit items contrary to the Trade Marks Act 1984 and was sentenced to 60 hours unpaid work.
She was also given a four month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and told she must forfeit the counterfeit items, and pay a £400 contribution towards prosecution costs, together with an £80 victim surcharge.
The £1,600 cash seized is now subject to proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Cllr David Poole, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services, said: “Counterfeiting is a crime.
“This prosecution, I hope, will send a clear message to the small minority of people who break the law in this way that action will be taken against them.
“It is unacceptable that people cheat genuine companies and legitimate retailers out of profit for their own means.”
He continued: “By working in close partnership with the police, our Trading Standards team are able to seek out these people, and such as in this case, bring about a successful conviction.”