A Paisley man has been jailed after importing more than £4million of high-branded counterfeit clothes.
Ian Jones, 65, imported goods from the Far East and Turkey over 17 months, which were branded as Gucci, Prada, Stone Island, Prada, Dior, Canada Goose and other labels.
Trading Standards Scotland officers raided units in Glasgow and Lanarkshire and discovered the goods in five rented Portacabins in Ibrox in June 2021, in what was at the time the largest recovery of counterfeit goods in UK history.
It took officers two days to collate the goods, which weighed 30 tonnes.
Read More:
- River City actor Iain Robertson convicted of raping a woman
- Murrell and Sturgeon: 'Mr Cellophane' becomes the star of the show
- Trans prisoners to be moved from women's jails in Scotland
At Hamilton Sheriff Court, Jones was sentenced to three years imprisonment after he admitted 15 combined charges of selling counterfeit goods valued at £3,800,000.
Andrew Laing, Procurator Fiscal for South Strathclyde, said: “Ian Jones has been convicted of a deliberate attempt to profit from criminal activity at the expense of consumers, legitimate businesses and well-known brands.
“This was a counterfeit operation on an industrial scale.
“Legitimate businesses work hard to build brand awareness and have a right to be protected from those who steal their intellectual property rights.
“The sale of counterfeit goods not only harms genuine manufacturers and retailers, but also means the purchaser receives low-quality goods that have not been subject to the same tests and standards as official items.
“Buying counterfeit goods supports criminal activity and harms the local economy by undermining legitimate retail businesses and traders.
“I hope this conviction shows that we treat such criminality with the utmost seriousness and will always take prosecutorial action when it is in the public interest to do so.”
Jones stored the goods at units in College Milton Industrial Estate, East Kilbride, and Righead Industrial Estate, Bellshill, as well as those in Glasgow.
The items were imported from Hong Kong, China and Turkey before being transported to Scotland from the East Midlands to Smith’s home address and then the industrial cabins.
They were then sold directly to customers for cash using word of mouth.
After being arrested over the haul of goods found in Ibrox, Jones continued to operate his illegal business at East Kilbride and Bellshill.
Fiona Richardson, Chief Officer for Trading Standards Scotland (TSS), said: “TSS welcomes the sentence issued today. As illicit trade is a priority for both TSS and the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, the team will continue to undertake actions against those selling counterfeit goods.
“These actions are aimed at protecting consumers and legitimate businesses by preventing the sale of counterfeit products across Scotland, which can often be unsafe and stored in unsanitary conditions.
“This verdict also highlights the importance of partnership working with Police Scotland, local authority trading standards, the Anti-Counterfeiting Group and brand holders all contributing to this outcome.”
Jones will now be subject to confiscation action under Proceeds of Crime legislation to recover monies illegally gained.
Share