18 month jail term for ebay bootlegger

Barry Wayne Pritchard of Penycae near Wrexham was jailed for 18 months after selling around £220,000 worth of counterfeit designer t-shirts on eBay over six years. He was convicted of possessing a printing press, a garment printer and a computer and its software in connection with the fraud. Pritchard was sentenced on the basis that he made £120,000 out of the illegal enterprise. An investigation under The Proceeds of Crime Act is now to take place.

After being warned by trading standard officials about his activities he continued to trade even when he was on bail after his arrest.

At an earlier appearance at Mold Crown Court he admitted tradesmarks offences and was convicted by a jury of fraud offences and participating in a fraudulent business.

Wrexham Trading Standards highlighted that he sold JLS, Grease, Elma Fudd, Top Gun, Pingu, Led Zepplin and Stone Roses t-shirts amongst others.

TRAP partners Surelock assisted in this case by providing authentication evidence.