Trading Standards Clamping Down | Fraudulent Trading
A firefighter from South Shields has recently been sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court for offences of fraudulent trading and transferring criminal property.
Helen Holder of Kangs Solicitors reports upon the case.
The Circumstances | Kangs Trading Standards Defence Team
- The defendant had, for a number of years, via the internet, Facebook and E-bay, sold set-top television boxes which had been illegally altered to enable them to receive subscription channels, primarily Premier League football.
- The proceeds of his crime were transferred to his personal bank and Paypal accounts, being an offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (‘POCA’).
The Sentencing Hearing | Kangs Criminal Offences Defence Solicitors
At the Hearing the defendant was:
- sentenced to twenty one months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months;
- ordered to undertake one hundred and eighty hours of unpaid work and
- made subject to proceedings under POCA during which the Prosecution will look to recover the benefit made by the defendant, reported to be between £61,000 and £100,000.
- The Judge stated: ‘This is a high culpability case because the activity was over a sustained period of time and it was clearly sophisticated offending with planning’.
Prosecution Comment | Kangs POCA Solicitors
A representative of South Tyneside Council stated:
“This is not a victimless crime. This kind of case damages a wide range of people including Sky and its employees and law-abiding publicans who may well lose trade from those who would normally go to their local pub to watch a match.
“The severity of this case is reflected in the sentence and I hope this acts as a deterrent to other people who hopefully will see that this type of offence is simply not worth the risk.”
How Can We Help? | Kangs National Trading Standards Solicitors
Kangs Solicitors has considerable experience advising and assisting clients facing investigation and prosecution brought by Trading Standards.
For more information please refer to our web-page dedicated to Trading Standards prosecutions by following the below link:
We welcome new enquiries by telephone or email and we are happy to provide an initial consultation to explore the issues in your case and to provide an assessment of how we assist you.
If we can be of assistance, our Team is available via telephone 0333 370 4333 and by email info@kangssolicitors.co.uk.
We provide initial no obligation discussion at our three offices in London, Birmingham and Manchester.
Alternatively, discussions can be held virtually through live conferencing or telephone.
