Trader admits selling counterfeit clothes - but blames Chinese suppliers (From Thisisdorset)
When news happens send us your pictures, video and views. Text BE to 80360 or contact us by email
Trader admits selling counterfeit clothes - but blames Chinese suppliers
9:37am Friday 19th October 2012 in Latest
Principal trading standards officer Richard Herringshaw with some of the counterfeit clothes
A MAN pleaded guilty to selling fake luxury fashion out of Bournemouth Airport.
Christopher Vailes, 27, from Hurn Way in Christchurch, claimed he was duped by Chinese suppliers but admitted six offences at Bournemouth Magistrates Court.
He was the director of Kick Stores Limited, based at Cirrus Court, and sold goods online after importing them from China.
Francisca da Costa, prosecuting for Dorset County Council Trading Standards, said officers bought a New Era cap for £18.99 and a pair of Nike trainers for £65.94 and both turned out to be fake.
Officers executed a search warrant last May and seized 147 items.
All the specimens sent off for testing also turned out to be counterfeit.
Vailes admitted five charges of selling counterfeit goods, which also included Louis Vuitton boots, a Ralph Lauren T-Shirt, and more Nike Trainers.
He also admitted one charge of a making a false claim on the company website by saying it had established industry relationships over 20 years.
Kick Stores was only incorporated in 2010.
Miss DeCosta said the firm mainly used PayPoint for sales and records showed customers spent more than £66,000.
The defendant told the court: “Everything I brought into the country and sold on, I sold in good faith, and I personally feel I was duped by the suppliers.
“The products I dealt with aren’t high street products, they are one-off limited edition lines, so it’s increasingly difficult to determine what is correct and what isn’t.”
Sentencing was adjourned for reports until November 22.
District Judge Roger House told Vailes that the sentence was likely to be a community punishment.
After the case, principal trading standards officer Richard Herringshaw told the Echo: “Traditionally, counterfeit goods were sold in markets but we are seeing that drop-off.
“We think they are moving towards online sales and people buying on the Internet need to be careful about who they are dealing with.”
Comments(8)
rudolph_hucker
says...
10:03am Fri 19 Oct 12
I bet he knew exactly what he was selling, just like he knew his "20 year established" claim was a load of old guff.
Sad really, that people have to eke a living out like this.
The Renegade Master
says...
11:17am Fri 19 Oct 12
Letcommonsenseprevail
says...
12:02pm Fri 19 Oct 12
BournemouthMum wrote:Oh dear. You have completely missed the point, and I can't even be bothered to explain why......
I don't see a problem with people selling fake designer goods as long as they are honest about it and don't pass them off as the real thing. I have quite a few fake handbags I've bought abroad, as well as a couple of genuine ones and it's difficult to tell the difference. Obviously the quality isn't as good but you get what you pay for. Designers aren't losing revenue because of fake goods being sold, as most of the people buying fake goods wouldn't buy the genuine article because they either wouldn't be inclined or couldn't afford it. When fake goods are seized they are destroyed - cut up or incinerated and binned. It would make more sense to cut out the labels and send them abroad to countries where they could be put to good use.
Bob_49483
says...
8:16pm Fri 19 Oct 12
rudolph_hucker wrote:its hardly eke'ing a living though is it... 66k of sales and he would have bought these trainers for pennies if they were fake so nearly all profit.... community service what a joke and hes still trading!
Haha, the old "I was conned as well" line.
I bet he knew exactly what he was selling, just like he knew his "20 year established" claim was a load of old guff.
Sad really, that people have to eke a living out like this.
pete woodley
says...
11:10am Sat 20 Oct 12
MagicSense
says...
12:00pm Sat 20 Oct 12
kingstonpaul
says...
1:29pm Mon 22 Oct 12
In China, you name it, everything is copyable - perfumes, jeans, medical equipment, aviation spares, etc, etc. And yet the UK goverment wants to prostrate itself in front of the Chinese, welcoming more to these shores, taking advantage of its fast-track economic growth.
BournemouthMum says...
10:02am Fri 19 Oct 12
When fake goods are seized they are destroyed - cut up or incinerated and binned. It would make more sense to cut out the labels and send them abroad to countries where they could be put to good use.