Two jailed for selling fake Premier League merchandise

Two Peterborough men have been sent to prison after being found guilty of illegal use of trademarks. Akil Thathia, (32) of Chatsfield, Werrington, and Shabir Maimoon, (30) of Carleton Crest, Walton, have been sent to prison for six months for selling counterfeit goods after pleading guilty under the Trade Marks Act 1994. Their business, Snuggle Ltd, was fined £2,000. The case was heard at Huntingdon Crown Court last month following an investigation into complaints received by Peterborough City Council’s Trading Standards. In January last year officers received a complaint regarding the sale and distribution of counterfeit Premier League merchandise (iPad covers and mobile phone socks) with the seller, a web based trader, located in Peterborough. A test purchase carried out by the Premier League’s anti-counterfeiting representative, (Back Four Brand Protection), had confirmed that an Everton iPad cover, sold via Amazon, was an unauthorised fake copy. The following month a warrant was executed by city council Trading Standards officers and computers linked to printers set up to print on phone covers were found. Examination of the computers found 2,850 graphic images of well-known registered trademarks. A separate case, linked to Shabir Maimoon, was heard on March 1 at Huntingdon Crown Court. Maimoon’s brother, Huzefa Ishaki, pleaded guilty and was given a six month sentence, suspended for 12 months, with a 200 hour community service order for similar Trade Marks Act offences with regard to his business Splash Prints. Splash Prints had around 20,000 items listed for sale on eBay with around 80 per cent of these carrying illegal trademarks. These were mainly posters and fridge magnets which Ishaki printed from home using a computer storing 2,500 trademarked graphics. Maimoon had assisted Ishaki in establishing his business through setting up an eBay account for him and lending him money to purchase stock. In the previous 13 months of trading, Splash Prints profited to the tune of more than £101,000 from the illegal use of trademarks. Councillor Peter Hiller, Cabinet Member for Housing, Neighbourhoods and Planning for Peterborough City Council, said: “These men have made huge amounts of money through the false use of trademarks; conning buyers out of their money and duping them into believing they are buying genuine items, and muddying the name of genuine trademarks and traders. “It is really encouraging to see all three men receive stern punishment for their actions and I hope this acts as a reminder to all those trading illegally- our officers will find you and you will be punished.” A spokesman for Premier League said: “The Premier League and its clubs run an anti-counterfeiting programme that involves working in partnership with Trading Standards, HM Revenue & Customs and other statutory authorities across the country to help tackle the issue of fake goods being illegally produced and sold to football fans. “We applaud Peterborough Trading Standards for undertaking this investigation and uncovering an illegal business that is based on ripping off football fans through the use of false trademarks. “We will continue to work with the relevant law enforcement authorities, sports rights holders and the clubs to tackle this on-going problem. If fans have any doubts about the legitimacy of a seller of club merchandise they should contact the relevant club or email info@premierleague.com.”Two Peterborough men have been sent to prison after being found guilty of illegal use of trademarks. Akil Thathia, (32) of Chatsfield, Werrington, and Shabir Maimoon, (30) of Carleton Crest, Walton, have been sent to prison for six months for selling counterfeit goods after pleading guilty under the Trade Marks Act 1994. Their business, Snuggle Ltd, was fined £2,000. The case was heard at Huntingdon Crown Court last month following an investigation into complaints received by Peterborough City Council’s Trading Standards. In January last year officers received a complaint regarding the sale and distribution of counterfeit Premier League merchandise (iPad covers and mobile phone socks) with the seller, a web based trader, located in Peterborough. A test purchase carried out by the Premier League’s anti-counterfeiting representative, (Back Four Brand Protection), had confirmed that an Everton iPad cover, sold via Amazon, was an unauthorised fake copy. The following month a warrant was executed by city council Trading Standards officers and computers linked to printers set up to print on phone covers were found. Examination of the computers found 2,850 graphic images of well-known registered trademarks. A separate case, linked to Shabir Maimoon, was heard on March 1 at Huntingdon Crown Court. Maimoon’s brother, Huzefa Ishaki, pleaded guilty and was given a six month sentence, suspended for 12 months, with a 200 hour community service order for similar Trade Marks Act offences with regard to his business Splash Prints. Splash Prints had around 20,000 items listed for sale on eBay with around 80 per cent of these carrying illegal trademarks. These were mainly posters and fridge magnets which Ishaki printed from home using a computer storing 2,500 trademarked graphics. Maimoon had assisted Ishaki in establishing his business through setting up an eBay account for him and lending him money to purchase stock. In the previous 13 months of trading, Splash Prints profited to the tune of more than £101,000 from the illegal use of trademarks. Councillor Peter Hiller, Cabinet Member for Housing, Neighbourhoods and Planning for Peterborough City Council, said: “These men have made huge amounts of money through the false use of trademarks; conning buyers out of their money and duping them into believing they are buying genuine items, and muddying the name of genuine trademarks and traders. “It is really encouraging to see all three men receive stern punishment for their actions and I hope this acts as a reminder to all those trading illegally- our officers will find you and you will be punished.” A spokesman for Premier League said: “The Premier League and its clubs run an anti-counterfeiting programme that involves working in partnership with Trading Standards, HM Revenue & Customs and other statutory authorities across the country to help tackle the issue of fake goods being illegally produced and sold to football fans. “We applaud Peterborough Trading Standards for undertaking this investigation and uncovering an illegal business that is based on ripping off football fans through the use of false trademarks. “We will continue to work with the relevant law enforcement authorities, sports rights holders and the clubs to tackle this on-going problem.

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/local/two-jailed-for-selling-fake-premier-league-merchandise-1-4906259