Preston investigators thwart trader who sold £350,000 of fake Pandora charms

Usman Sadiq, 38, of Rossendale, made sales of £368,518.81 over 18 months selling counterfeit jewellery on an e-Bay account.

Suspicious Lancashire Trading Standards officers, based at County Hall, made covert test purchases in May 2016, and tests later showed the items were fake.

Jewellery and packaging were found at his home during a subsequent raid, and further items were sold online just a month after the raid.

Prosecuting, Anthony Parkinson said: “It was clear that he had been running a highly profitable business."

Preston Crown Court ordered £129,753.01 of assets to be confiscated.

He was given a two year jail term, suspended for two years, with 200 hours’ unpaid work and costs of £4,316.46.

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