A Strangeways business has been fined almost £40,000 after being caught selling hundreds of fake designer handbags.
In September 2018, Officers from Manchester City Council Trading Standards, GMP, and brand representatives raided Jamie Bags Ltd, in Woolley Street.
During this action a total of 769 handbags, holdalls and purses – all counterfeit – were seized.
Brands found included Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Bulgari and Hello Kitty.
This was not the first time action had been taken against this premises. In September 2017 a warning was issued against the business due to suspected trademark violations.
Following the seizure of goods the company’s director, Giacomo Chen, was interviewed under caution by the Council in February 2019.
This was followed by a guilty plea entered by the company on September 2, 2020, admitting four offences of having counterfeit goods in possession for supply.
Sentencing at Manchester Crown Court on February 4, 2021, His Honour Judge Nicholas Dean QC fined the company £37,500, and ordered costs of £3,843.88 to be paid. A forfeiture order was also made.
