Woman from Arnold Found Guilty of Five Trade Mark Offences

An Arnold woman has received a six-month supervision order for selling counterfeit clothing via the social media site Facebook at Nottingham Magistrates Court this Wednesday (8 January).

Laura Franks, 32, of Kingswell Avenue, Arnold, pleaded guilty to six offences against the Trade Marks Act 1994 and was also ordered to pay £600 towards prosecution costs plus a £60 victim surcharge.

A Nottinghamshire County Council trading standards investigation found a Facebook account set up by Ms Franks which advertised a variety of counterfeit branded clothing such as Tiffany jewellery Stone Island and Ralph Lauren, with messages offering to deliver the goods.

Her home was raided last year by trading standards and police officers where order books and a small amount of fake clothing were found.

A mobile phone was also seized with dozens of photos of counterfeit items and messages on items for sale and prices.

Councillor Glynn Gilfoyle, Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Community Safety Committee, said: “There is a popular belief that counterfeiting is a victim-less crime which is far from the truth.

“Counterfeit goods affect local retailers of genuine goods who cannot compete and there is a significant loss to the clothing industry and tax revenue which would have been raised for vital public services such as the NHS and care for the elderly.”