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12 Months Jail for Counterfeit Goods
As a result of co-operation by trading standards officers from Bexley, Greenwich and Essex County Council, a ‘Scambusting’ operation resulted in an Abbey Wood man being sentenced to 12 months imprisonment at Woolwich Crown Court on 27 February.
At a lower court hearing on 19 January, his wife was found guilty of what Bexley Magistrates described as a joint enterprise and ordered to do 240 hours community punishment.
Irvan Hou, of Mangold Way, Erith (formerly of Binsey Walk, Thamesmead), pleaded not guilty in October 2006 at Bexley Magistrates’ Court. The case was adjourned to December where he was found guilty and sent to the Crown Court where a custodial sentence was imposed.
In May 2005, trading standards officers from Bexley and Greenwich, accompanied by police officers, raided Mr Hou’s former home in Binsey Walk where they found a large quantity of counterfeit goods. More goods were found in Mr Hou’s car, which was parked nearby.
Hou was accused of being in possession of a large quantity of counterfeit goods, including designer clothes, handbags, watches, DVDs and cigarettes. His claim that the goods were for his personal use and not for sale was rejected by the Court.
His wife, Lili Qiao, who was charged with him, also pleaded not guilty, claiming that handbags found in the goods were for her own use. Bexley Magistrates rejected her story and imposed the community punishment order, saying that there had been a joint enterprise between them. Hou was sent to the higher court for a custodial sentence to be imposed.
The prosecution was the result of an investigation by Bexley Trading Standards officers, which followed a tip-off by colleagues from Greenwich Council.
Similar offences committed in Essex were also sent to Woolwich Crown Court for sentencing at the same time as the Bexley offences were dealt with.
Sentencing Hou to 12 months imprisonment Judge Paul Tain said that he viewed the offences very seriously as it was obvious to Hou that he was breaking the law and that his crimes struck at the heart of legitimate commercial activity,
He said: “This is a person who, having had more than adequate warnings, proceeded -- notwithstanding appearing in court previously -- to go about the unlawful business of selling items that he was not permitted to sell under the Trade Marks Act 1994, placing himself at risk of at least 10 years in prison -- and he did so knowingly.”
After the case, Cllr Gareth Bacon, Bexley Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “We hope that this case sends out a warning to people who deal in counterfeit goods that the consequences are very severe.
“As this case shows, trading standards officers work closely together and share information. They are supported by a network of regional intelligence officers and teams of ‘Scambusters’ covering most of the country. There is also liaison with Government agencies, including Police, Revenue and Customs and the Immigration Service.”
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