A Scarborough woman who used Facebook to sell counterfeit goods ranging from “Chanel” perfumes to “Tiffany” jewellery has been sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work following a prosecution by North Yorkshire County Council’s Trading Standards department.
Sarah Cordukes, 26, of Esplanade Road, admitted 18 offences under the Trade Marks Act involving a wide range of fake goods which she offered for sale on the social networking site.
At York Crown Court, Judge Stephen Ashurst told her: “It is an affront to common sense when some of the items were at a vastly reduced cost from genuine trade. Dealing in counterfeit goods is a serious matter.”
When trading standards officers searched Cordukes’ flat and the home of her parents, they found more than 200 counterfeit items, including clothing, jewellery, footwear, purses and handbags bearing a range of leading brand names.
The case was the first successful prosecution by North Yorkshire Trading Standards involving goods offered for sale on Facebook. A financial investigation is now under way under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Coun Chris Metcalfe, executive member for Trading Standards, said: “This case demonstrates clearly that North Yorkshire Trading Standards are determined to crack down on anyone offering counterfiet goods of any kind.”
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