Market trader caught selling fake goods

AN Oldham market trader has been prosecuted after he was caught selling counterfeit leisurewear.

Mohammed Shakeel Bhutta, of Hartswood Road, Withington, pleaded guilty to 28 charges under the Trade Marks Act 1994 when he appeared before Oldham magistrates.
Bhutta, who runs a stall on Tommyfield Market, was sentenced to a 12-month community order and must carry out 150 hours’ unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay to pay £2,335 in costs.

The 53-year-old was caught selling the fake goods on the outdoor market in March, 2009.

Trading Standards Officers visited his stall and searched his vehicle at the market and seized 177 items of which 137 proved to be counterfeit copies of the real thing.

There were assorted items of popular sports and leisurewear, including T-shirts, trainers and track suits by popular brands such as Nike, Adidas, Fred Perry, and Timberland.

Bhutta claimed to have bought the counterfeit copies in good faith from a market in Manchester but did nothing to check whether the goods were genuine. All the counterfeit goods were forfeited for destruction.

Councillor Rod Blyth, cabinet member for community safety and public protection, said: “Oldham Council is committed to removing counterfeit goods from circulation as the people who sell them are ripping off the citizens of the borough by selling them inferior quality goods.”