Fleetwood woman who sold fakes knew they were dodgy, judge says

Trading standards officers seized counterfeit items which could have been worth up to £25,000, the council said

A woman who claimed she did not know branded clothing she was selling at a car boot sale was fake has been told by a judge that she must have known the goods were "dodgy", a council has said.

Lancashire County Council said Tracy Gane, 56, sold counterfeit fake Ralph Lauren sunglasses to trading standards officers in Fleetwood in August 2022.

Officers also seized fake Dior, Chanel and Louis Vuitton items from her stall.

Gane was fined £2,500 after admitting six offences at Preston Crown Court.

The council said Gane, of South Strand, Fleetwood, sold the sunglasses to its officers at a car boot sale on Navigation Way on 7 August 2022.

'Strong stance'

A representative said a fortnight later, on 21 August, officers "seized counterfeit clothing and accessories" from her stall including Hugo Boss-branded polo shirts, Chanel earrings, Dior sunglasses and Louis Vuitton scarves and wallets.

They said officers "valued the haul at about £25,000 compared to their genuine high street counterparts", but when interviewed, Gane claimed it "had not occurred to her that some of her stock could be fakes".

However, they said that while sentencing her for six offences under the Trade Mark Act, Judge Simon Medland KC said she must have known the goods were "dodgy".

They added that applications for forfeiture and the payment of prosecution costs were adjourned pending the outcome of financial proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Speaking after the case, Councillor Michael Green said selling trademark infringing goods was "a serious offence" and the authority would always take "a strong stance against fraudsters" and "send the message that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated".