On Wednesday 12 April, Darren Spendlove, of Liskeard Close, Runcorn, was sentenced at Warrington Magistrates Court for possession of counterfeit goods.
The trader offered the goods for sale from his retail premises, the Discount Outlet, Victoria Road, Widnes, and also via a Facebook account ‘Designer Outlet Widnes’.
With this case Halton Trading Standards Service were particularly concerned the trader was offering for sale a selection of children’s toys, which were believed to be counterfeit and, as such, swiftly acted upon intelligence received from members of the public.
During November 2021 and June 2022, the shop was visited three times by Trading Standards officers and each time counterfeit goods were seized. In total 186 high value items and designer goods were seized, totalling more than £30,000.
With no previous offences in connection with the sale of counterfeit goods, Spendlove was found guilty on ten counts contrary to the Trade Marks Act 1994 and was fined £3,806, ordered to pay costs of £1,170 and a victim surcharge of £35, totalling £5,011. The chair of the bench noted the repeated incidents and the previous warnings issued by Trading Standards when sentencing.
A spokesperson from Halton Trading Standards confirmed: ‘Of particular concern in this case were counterfeit LOL toys being sold by the trader. Counterfeiters generally do not comply with safety standards and neither do they carry out quality checks on the goods they produce. When it comes to counterfeit children’s toys they could be made with toxic products, or with small parts which are not affixed properly and could result in a choking hazard. As such we would urge parents to be extra vigilant when buying toys for their children and question the authenticity of the toys especially if they appear cheaper than normal.”
Halton Trading Standards will continue to pro-actively target traders whether they sell via the high street or online social media accounts like Facebook. With a clear warning that sellers will face criminal enforcement action when they are caught and they risk having their computers, mobile phones and even their vehicles seized. Furthermore, sellers should consider the impact a criminal conviction will have on their private lives – their employment prospects, their ability to get holiday visas and their reputation with their neighbours and their community.
The spokesperson continued: “We have a duty to protect the residents of Halton and the health of all of its residents and so it is important that we prosecute those involved in the supply of counterfeit goods, like Darren Spendlove. Hopefully this case sends out a clear message to these criminals that our Trading Standards Service is coming for them. It should not be forgotten that as well as a financial penalty, this individual will have to deal with the stigma and impact of a criminal record for many years to come.”
If you have any information involving the sale of counterfeit goods then you can report it, anonymously if you wish, via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.
If you have any information specifically relating to the sale of illicit cigarettes or alcohol then you can telephone the Halton Trading Standards Hotline for Alcohol and Tobacco on 0151 511 8787. This is a reporting voicemail facility only and any information provided can be left anonymously, however, please provide enough information to identify those involved and if you want feedback your contact details too. Remember all other trading standards matters can be reported in the usual manner by contacting 0808 223 1133, as above.