A swindler who made thousands of pounds selling fake Nike Air Max trainers on eBay has narrowly escaped a jail term.
Daniel Davison, 31, of Browning Avenue, Worcester Park, admitted importing the 200 fake trainers from China and then selling them to unsuspecting customers on the internet auction site between February and May 2008.
A further 15 pairs of trainers were seized during a police raid on his home.
He was given a seven-month suspended jail sentence and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work at Croydon Crown Court on 29 May after pleading guilty to the possession and supply of the goods.
An investigation by Sutton Council’s Trading Standards officers found that Davison had earned around £16,500 through selling goods on eBay from January 2007 to June 2008.
Sutton Council officers are now working to seize Davison’s illegal earnings through the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Mandy Cherrington, Sutton Council’s head of business regulation, said: “The sale of fake items over the internet is a growing problem.
“This case demonstrates that police and council officers are adapting and using their skills to stop this illegal trading.
“We hope this sentence acts as a deterrent to anyone who thinks they can profit from selling counterfeit goods online.
“It should also serve as a warning to criminals that if you make money from selling fake goods, we will go after your assets.”
Davison pleaded guilty to two offences under section 92 of the Trade Marks Act 1994.
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