Ebay site fraudster faces jail
An internet fraudster who sold thousands of pounds of fake shoes and clothing over the internet from his Black Country home has been jailed for 18 months.
An internet fraudster who sold thousands of pounds of fake shoes and clothing over the internet from his Black Country home has been jailed for 18 months.
Jason Messenger, aged 38, of Britannia Road, Rowley Regis, used auction website ebay to sell counterfeit Nike trainers and Timberland boots.
Messenger then deliberately made false bids to drive up the price and increase his profit, Wolverhampton Crown Court, sitting at the Waterfront, Brierley Hill, was told.
Two other men, Kevin Gibbons, of Ascot Close, Oldbury, and Simon Jones, of Midhill Drive, Rowley Regis, were given suspended prison sentences after they also admitted selling fake-label shoes on ebay.
Mr Barry Berlin, prosecuting, said the total loss to industry from the trio's sold and unsold stock was estimated to be around £391,540.The court heard the men were caught after customers complained to ebay.Police raided their homes and seized fake Nike, Timberland, Lacoste and Chanel goods in November 2007.
Mr Berlin said: "They were passing these items of as genuine and advertising them for sale on ebay."
Messenger pleaded guilty to nine counts of possessing goods with a false trademark for sale and two counts of fraud relating to the false bids.
Gibbons, aged 27, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of possessing goods with a false trademark for sale. He was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and 200 hours of unpaid work.
Jones, aged 30, had admitted five counts of the same charge and was given a nine-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and 120 hours of unpaid work.
Judge Challinor told them the harm that was caused bu their fraudulent behaviour was considerable.