£60,000 Confiscated from Counterfeiter!
A seller of counterfeit clothing has been ordered to pay a £60,000 Proceeds of Crime Confiscation order or face 15 months imprisonment following a successful prosecution by Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service.
Mark Ryder, Head of Warwickshire Trading Standards Service said:
“This is the second counterfeiter in 12 months we have prosecuted to now face a confiscation order. We want to send a warning to those who manufacture or sell counterfeit goods in Warwickshire that we take action to strip them of the profits they have made as a result of their criminal activities!”
At Warwick Crown Court on Wednesday 20th April 2011, Mr Irfan Khan (dob: 12.05.73 ) of Stratford Road, Hall Green, Birmingham was made the subject of a Proceeds of Crime Confiscation order and ordered to pay £60,000 with costs of £5,000. This followed the successful prosecution of Mr Khan in 2010 when at Warwick Crown Court he pleaded guilty to 5 charges under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and was ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work.
A van in which Irfan Khan was travelling was stopped by Warwickshire Police on route home from Wellesbourne Market and was searched by Warwickshire Trading Standards Officers.
They discovered over 1000 items of counterfeit clothing bearing brand names including Adidas and Timberland. Mr Khan’s home address was also searched and a further 1,500 fake items were discovered.
The counterfeit value of goods seized from Mr Khan was approximately £40,000. Had the clothing been genuine it would have been worth £164,000.
All the counterfeit clothing recovered was seized from Mr Khan.
If Mr Khan fails to pay the confiscation order and is imprisoned, he will still be required to pay the £60,000.