Huddersfield man jailed for fake Armani, Bench, Adidas and Prada clothing scam

Mar 6 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Father of five jailed for fake clothing scam

A HUDDERSFIELD businessman has been jailed for eight months for his role in a professional counterfeit clothing operation which could have cost companies tens of thousands of pounds.

Father-of-five Mohammed Ashraf was arrested while manning a stall at the Cross Green car boot sale in East Leeds last September.

Trading Standards and police officers moved in when they suspected that the 51-year-old, of Lockwood Road, Huddersfield, and another man were selling counterfeit designer jackets and jeans.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday how officers seized dozens of jackets, jeans and T-shirts bearing the names of Armani, Bench, Adidas and Prada, and Ashraf was found in possession of more than £400.

The inquiry led investigators to a unit operated by Ashraf at the Gatehouse Enterprise Centre in Huddersfield where he ran his legitimate clothes manufacturing business, TR Fashions.

Prosecutor Howard Shaw told the court how during a search of the premises investigators found boxes containing hundreds of counterfeit items as well as false labels, buttons and packaging which could be used to brand clothing to pass it off as the real goods.

Judge Jonathan Rose accepted submission that Ashraf had not been the leading light behind the operation and the court heard that another suspect, named as Mumtaz Hussain, had been returned to Pakistan by the immigration authorities without the knowledge of those investigating the counterfeit goods scam.

Ashraf, who had a previous conviction for conspiracy to defraud an insurance company, pleaded guilty last month to 25 charges under the Trademarks Act 1994.

Sentencing him, Judge Rose said the courts had always protected those who owned copyright and trademarks.

“The authorities have made it clear that those who breach copyright and trademarks are involved in a serious criminal enterprise,” he told Ashraf, who also works as a cab driver.

“It seems to me in recent years as more and more people, particularly young people, have placed more and more store in labels such as Prada, Armani, Bench and G-Star there is an even greater need to protect those copyrights and trademarks.

“Offences of this sort which are becoming more and more prevalent are difficult and time-consuming to detect.