One Direction merchandise forger ordered to pay back £140k profit from scam

After a successful conviction supported by TRAP, Manchester Crown Court proceeds of crime act hearing has passed judgement.

The forger who sold thousands of items of fake One Direction merchandise has been ordered to pay the state his £140,000 ill-gotten gains.

Gary Simpson worked as an amateur football club kitman and used equipment intended for printing numbers on strips to turn out bogus boy band tops. Simpson, 56, of Walkden, had no licence to use popstars’ branding, but fans snapped up £16.99 items bearing crude copies of logos belonging to idols One Direction, Justin Bieber, JLS, The Wanted, Olly Murs and Westlife.

He has now been ordered to give up the profits after an investigation into his assets.

They include his home, £50,000 equity in a property bought by his wife, the contents of his bank account, his car, his business equipment and a health insurance policy.

Read more courtesy of Manchester Evening News