Two Leicestershire women have been sentenced at Leicester Crown Court this week for selling counterfeit goods on Facebook Marketplace, despite warnings from trading standards. 

Helen Brindley Walker, 43, of Norris Hill, Moira and Lisa McArdle, 53, of High Street Measham, were sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on Monday 21st July. 

The pair regularly sold clothing, jewellery, cosmetics, electrical items, tobacco and other items through Facebook Marketplace and had been running their business for 16 months before they were prosecuted by trading standards. During this time, they had turned over an estimated £480,000 which would have been the equivalent of £3.5 million if the goods had been legitimate. 

The court heard that between July 2020 and October 2021, Leicestershire Trading Standards had received numerous complaints from customers that had purchased items from Brindley Walker and McArdle. When customers complained about the poor quality of items they had been sold, the pair refused to issue a refund. 

As a result of these complaints, Brindley Walker were contacted by Trading Standards on multiple occasions, where they gave her advice and warned her about the potential consequences of selling counterfeit goods. 

The pair continued to sell through a closed Facebook group called 'Get the Look,' which was administered by Brindley Walker. Trading Standards officers joined the group and carried out two test purchases. 

They bought items branded as Adidas and Nike trainers, Paco Rabanne aftershave, Tiffany earrings, Apple Air Pods, Adidas hoodie and a YSL perfume and make-up set. 

Once they had received the items, they were analysed by representatives from Adidas, Nike, Tiffany, Apple and YSL who all confirmed they were fakes as that the pair did not have the required authorisation to produce, market or import any of their goods. 

Fromm there, Trading Standards got warrants to examine the women's home addresses and two storage containers in Burton where a total of 3,558 items were seized. 

These items were sent off to experts for examination and in total 31 trademark holders confirmed the items were fakes. 

During the trial, the court heard that Brindley Walker ran the business and McArdle worked for her, monitoring the Facebook page, packing orders and taking them to the Post Office. 

Brindley Walker was jailed for two years and three months and McArdle was given a 15-month sentence suspended for two years due to her lesser involvement. 

During mitigation, the court heard that Brindley Walker has felt threatened by her supplier and was operating in genuine fear of him. 

Passing sentence on Brindley-Walker, His Honour Timothy Spencer KC said: "You were given a very clear warning about selling counterfeit goods. You completely ignored the warning. If you had done what you should have done and stopped it there and then, you would not be in such big trouble as you are." 

Sentencing McArdle, he said: "This is your first appearance in a court ever and it had better be your last. Your criminal career starts and finishes with this offending." 

Gary Connors, head of Regulatory Services at Leicestershire County Council said: "These sentences send out a clear message – Leicestershire County Council Trading Standards will not hesitate to investigate and take action against this sort of unscrupulous and dishonest activity."