Fake UGG boot trio spared jail
Court Grab - STEVEN POTTER. (W523A231)
A man has been spared jail for running a counterfeit operation selling UGG boots from the back of his corner shop in Castleford.
Steven Potter, 40, was sentenced last week for offering to sell fake handbags, boots and gloves from the back of his Bargain Booze store on Albion Street.
His brother and sister-in-law, of Kettlethorpe, Wakefield, were also sentenced for their part in the con.
Prosecutors said Potter, of Leeds Road, Castleford, made around £1,400 from selling the counterfeit goods before police raided the premises in December 2011.
Philip Standfast, prosecuting said: “Steven Potter was running a significant sideline of counterfeit goods from his premises albeit only for a short period of time.
“Dawn and John Potter were much less involved, they were working in the business which was legitimate and by and large, their role was fielding occasional calls about what stock was present.”
Leeds Crown Court heard how Potter’s brother John and sister-in-law Dawn Potter, of Heeley Road, were working in the shop when police seized 80 UGG handbags, nine pairs of UGG boots and gloves, four Pandora bracelets and two Armani watches.
Potter arrived as officers were searching the shop, where he admitted he had purchased the items in Manchester with plans to sell them over Christmas.
After they were arrested, police found text messages on all three defendants’ phones relating to the sale of counterfeit goods.
Steven Potter admitted six counts of offering to sell counterfeit goods. John and Dawn Potter also pleaded guilty to three counts of the same charge.
Steven Potter was handed a two-month suspended prison sentence and ordered to do 220 hours of unpaid work and pay £500 costs.
Sentencing him, Judge Neil Clark said: “It seems that between November and December 2011 you were selling these items to boost your income.
“I accept this was a small scale operation and the proceeds were particularly limited, at £1,400.
“But an aggravating feature is that you bought John and Dawn Potter into it.
“No-one should think selling counterfeit goods is not a matter which is serious.”
John Potter was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work while his wife was given a 12-month conditional discharge.
Judge Clark added: “John Potter I accept your role was limited and all you did was assist with the availability of stock.
“Dawn Potter your role was slightly more limited but similar to that of your husband.”
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Wednesday 22 May 2013
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