City traders jailed for selling fake designer clothes
Three Birmingham traders were jailed today (12 February 2015) for a total of three years and 10 months, for offences relating to the possession of garments, for the purpose of supply, which bore registered trademarks without the consent of the proprietors with an estimated value of £1.5 million.
Tariq Mahmood Hussain (37) of  Onslow Road, Tyseley, who was found guilty of 15 offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994 at an earlier hearing, was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment at Birmingham Crown Court.
Tariq Hussain (40) of Heathmore Avenue, Yardley and Ashiq Hussain (42) of Kilmorie Road, Acocks Green, who pleaded guilty to the same 15 offences at an earlier hearing, were jailed for 18 months and eight months respectively.
Birmingham City Council brought a case against these defendants following a year-long investigation into their complex operation.
Cllr Barbara Dring, Chair of Birmingham City Council’s Licensing and Public Protection Committee, said: “This was a very complex case, which was brought to court after a year-long investigation by our officers, as these individuals operated from numerous bases and trading sites.
“Officers seized more than 15,000 items of clothing, carrying counterfeit logos of 15 trademarked brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren and Superdry, worth an estimated value of £1.5 million. While these clothes were sold at markets, consumers should not have to worry about being duped into buying fake goods.
“These are global brands which have been built up over decades of hard work do not deserve to be damaged as a result of their logos being used on inferior or unlicensed products. This is also cash-rich enterprise, which has an impact on those businesses which are trading legally.â€
ENDS
Media contact: Emma Brady, Press and PR Officer, on  0121 303 6969 or email [email protected]
