She was advertising and selling flashy fake goods on Facebook but Shannon Sumpton’s scam came to a end when trading watchdogs moved in.
And after the 22-year-old was hauled before court, she was ordered to pay a total of £1,140,00.
Sumpton was caught after an entry warrant was executed at her home at Simpson Avenue, St Helen Auckland, by Durham County Council’s trading standards team.
On Monday, 4 June 2018, goods bearing the name of well-known brands such as Adidas, Nike, Converse, Hugo Boss, Burberry and North Face , were discovered in the kitchen of the property.
Items consisting of trainers, tracksuits, clothing sets and children’s clothing of various sizes were all confirmed to be counterfeit.
Trading Standards staff also recovered cash including an amount of Euros and a mobile phone belonging to the defendant.
Investigations found evidence that the defendant had been actively involved in the sale of counterfeit clothing and accessories from at least January 2018.
Shopkeeper with more than 27,000 illegal cigarettes ordered to repay nearly £10,000 in unpaid duty
Sumpton took orders by advertising from her Facebook account and evidence suggested that she was selling the goods for profit.
In mitigation she stated that she only made a small amount of money for herself and she had a contact in Manchester, where she would go to purchase items she knew to be counterfeit and would buy additional goods for her family.
Owen Cleugh, Durham County Council’s consumer protection manager, said: “The sale of counterfeit goods can carry a jail sentence of up to 10 years, and not only does it deceive customers, everyday it harms legitimate businesses trying to make an honest living.”
Sumpton was fined £160, reduced from £240 in recognition of her early guilty plea, ordered to pay £956.85 in costs and a victim surcharge of £30.
See the suspected illegal cigarettes seized from Gateshead home after undercover operation
Warning after pensioner had £10,000 stolen from his Jarrow home
