Counterfeit clothes seized by Trading Standards in Caerphilly County Borough are being donated to charity.
Hundreds of items of counterfeit clothing and footwear were recently handed over to Lincolnshire-based charity His Church to be recycled to a good cause here in Caerphilly.
Counterfeit items are re-branded by the charity and then distributed to the homeless and the vulnerable.
DrugAid Wales’ Phoenix Drop-In Centre in Caerphilly received a large number of re-branded items from the charity.
The items were donated as a result of prosecutions for counterfeiting over the last two years – including that of a Penyrheol resident.
Mark Anthony Griffiths, of Penyrheol, Caerphilly, was prosecuted on January 3 2013 for possession for supply of counterfeit clothing, footwear, electrical goods, DVDs and sunglasses.
He was ordered to pay a £450 fine, £1,522.43 costs to the council, a £15 victim surcharge and forfeiture of all counterfeit goods.
Cllr David Poole, cabinet member for community and leisure, said: “Our Trading Standards team is taking a strong, no-nonsense approach in seeking out counterfeiting activity, and the fines imposed on this individual should send a stark warning to others.
“Historically Trading Standards have faced the expense of storing counterfeit goods while waiting for a court decision, along with incineration or landfill costs. The partnership work between the council, His Church and Drugaid not only takes profit away from criminals, but gifts the most vulnerable people in society with new, warm clothing, which is a key factor in restoring dignity to those who have fallen on hard times.”
The Phoenix Centre in Caerphilly helps individuals and communities affected by their own and others’ drug and alcohol use.
Many people who access the service and will benefit from the clothing donations have low or no income, are homeless or are fleeing domestic violence. The centre offers a range of services including face-to-face support, advocacy, creative writing, workshops, free Internet access and showering and laundry facilities.