Couple sold counterfeit jewellery on eBay
Saturday 21st May 2011, 11:30AM BST.
A man and woman from Shropshire have been handed a fine and community order for selling more than £8,000 of counterfeit jewellery on eBay.
Sarah Ann Everley, 42, and Vincent Smith, 55, of Quatford, near Bridgnorth, appeared at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court yesterday.
The couple admitted a string of charges related to selling items including bracelets, bangles and necklaces likely to be mistaken for Tiffany & Co products. Both were ordered to pay £1,169.36 and were handed a 12-month community order involving 200 hours of unpaid work.
Everley faced four counts of selling and offering or exposing for sale goods bearing a false trade mark.
Smith faced four counts of selling and offering or exposing for sale goods bearing a false trade mark. He faced a further charge of engaging in a commercial practice which is a misleading action containing false information.
Between April and October 2010, the couple sold more than 300 items with more than £8,000 paid into their PayPal accounts.
Mr Mike Davies, prosecuting, said trading standards officials detected the activity of the couple after launching an investigation to identify rogue traders.
He said: “Anyone receiving the items would think they were the real product. They looked of good quality but the reality is they were not. There was a clear profit making opportunity. They realised the items were counterfeit but despite that they described them as Tiffany & Co.”
Mrs Ceri Lewis, defending, said the couple sold the items to make extra cash after going through a financial “hard patch”.
She said: “Up until when they were arrested they did not believe they were doing anything wrong.”
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