​Repeat Offender sentenced after Trading Standards take action against sales of designer goods on Facebook

Following a Trading Standards investigation, a 37 year old woman appeared in Inverness Sheriff court for sentencing today after having been found guilty of 15 charges of selling fake designer labelled goods from two addresses in the Highlands.   This is the second time the individual involved had been investigated by Trading Standards and found guilty in court of such offences.

Donna Stewart of 14 Loaneckheim, Kiltarlity was sentenced to 240 hours community payback.

Stewart was previously convicted at Inverness Sheriff Court in November 2013 after pleading guilty to 20 charges relating to the sale of fake goods through her Facebook page.

In December 2013, she was caught in possession of numerous fake designer goods including handbags, jewellery, clothes, and footwear, make up, electrical goods and perfume.  After a lengthy investigation, the search of her house in June 2014 under a warrant executed with the assistance of Police Scotland, resulted in the seizure of more counterfeit products.

In the region of 250 counterfeit items bearing brand names including Chanel, Rolex, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Mulberry, Ugg, Ice, Jimmy Choo, Links of London, Pandora, Jack Wills, Beats, Barbour, Armani and Chanel were seized during the investigation, with a total estimated High Street value of £35,000.

David MacKenzie, Trading Standards Team Leader commented:

“Fake goods cheat consumers, undermine legitimate local businesses and damage the interests of those who own the intellectual property rights. The public need to play their part by not supporting this illegal trade and those who chose to supply fakes can expect to be found out and firmly dealt with. If anyone has any information about sales of counterfeit goods, they can let us know anonymously at: http://www.highland.gov.uk/counterfeits .”