Fake football shirt seller given unpaid work order

Police seized the items in raids on Hafeji's property in May 2023 (stock image)

A man who made £100,000 selling fake football shirts has been given a suspended jail sentence and ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.

Ahmed Hafeji, 29, from Bolton, sold the shirts online via social media and in his local community.

The North West's police intellectual property crime unit seized the shirts, banners and promotional material during raids in May 2023.

Hafeji pleaded guilty at Bolton Crown Court in August 2023.

He was handed a 12-month sentence, suspended for 18 months and ordered to complete unpaid work on Wednesday.

PC James Davies said: "Hafeji operated an illegal business online and in his local community, selling fake football shirts he imported from China, knowing full well it was unlawful to do so."

PC Davies urged football fans not to purchase counterfeit goods, saying: "Whatever savings you think you're making when buying these goods are often offset by their poor quality and the risks that come from using a product that has been manufactured illegally.

"The sale of counterfeit goods also diverts funds away from the clubs you support and into the hands of criminals, preventing re-investment."