A trader has been prosecuted and fined after being found in possession of more than 650 counterfeit items at Portland Market. 

Dorset County Council Trading Standards officers seized 663 counterfeit items from the market off Easton Lane, including fake ‘Rolex’ watches, branded sunglasses and sports clothing and footwear.

Christopher Ian McDonald, aged 44, pleaded guilty at Weymouth Magistrates Court to eight specimen offences of possessing counterfeit items for sale, contrary to the Trade Marks Act, 1994. 

McDonald, of Beech Avenue, Bournemouth, was ordered to pay £2,000 in fines and prosecution costs plus a £60 victim surcharge.

Officers attended the outdoor weekly market in August 2016 after receiving a tip-off counterfeit items were being sold. 

The court heard how officers became suspicious when a man was seen running across the market. 

They followed him to a stall where three men were found scooping items from the sales table into the back of a white van. 

At the scene, McDonald admitted the goods were counterfeit and they were seized. 

In mitigation Kenneth Sharpe, defending, told the court that McDonald thought he had bought a ‘job lot’ of genuine clothing but on seeing the watches he knew they were counterfeit. To cut his losses, he decided to ‘chance his arm’ and sell them at the market.

Representatives of the lawful registered trade mark holders later confirmed that samples were unauthorised copies. 

Trading Standards officers from Poole Borough Council had previously been warned McDonald about the sale of counterfeit goods. He agreed to surrender all counterfeit items to Trading Standards prior to the hearing.

Cllr Deborah Croney, Dorset County Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for trading standards, said: “The selling of counterfeit goods harms the interests of the trade mark holders but also those of legitimate traders on our Dorset markets, selling genuine authorised goods or unbranded items.

Dorset’s markets attract many visitors throughout the summer and we will continue to take action where illegal goods are identified.

We are grateful for the tip-off that led to the seizure by our officers in this case.” 

Since the seizure McDonald spent some time out of the country which delayed the matter coming to court.

Consumers needing advice or wishing to report unfair or unsafe trading should call the Citizens Advice on 03454 04 05 06 or visit https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/.

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