Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council Trading Standards officers, local Police and an ELSPA investigator searched the family home in Formby and discovered the extent of the operation, finding the goods in a cupboard hidden in a wall. The two offenders were also falsely claiming benefits.
They were both sentenced on August 1st at Liverpool Crown Court, and were given different sentences. Andrew King of Alexandra Road, Southport, was given 21 months imprisonment, which was comprised of 18 months for this offence and 3 months for an earlier conviction. Angela Susan King of Dales Walk, Freshfield in Formby received six months for the same offences.
Michael Rawlinson, deputy director general of ELSPA commented: "These offenders were profiting through crime, not only riding on the back of the creative industries but also lining their pockets with tax payers money. We will continue to work closely with the Department for Work and Pensions, Trading Standards and the Police, all of whom give us excellent support and assistance."
Andrew Naisbitt, head of Trading Standards for Sefton Council said: "We are very pleased with the outcome of the court case and hopefully it sends out a strong message that piracy and benefit fraud in any form will not be tolerated."
"Our dedicated and committed team takes piracy very seriously and we will not hesitate to take court action against anyone caught responsible for it. Not only are consumers short-changed when they buy poor quality fake goods but legitimate retailers also lose out on business."
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