6/9/2010 - Fraudster forced to repay £105k from memory card scam

A convicted counterfeiter has been forced to repay £87,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act after an investigation by Cumbria Trading Standards.

Stephen Bradshaw, 45, from The Green, Millom, was convicted in October 2009 of selling counterfeit Sony memory cards on the internet. 

More than 2,000 of the branded memory cards and memory sticks were sold through online auction sites eBay and Amazon between July 2007 and July 2008.

At Preston Crown Court today (6 September) Bradshaw was ordered to repay the money under the Proceeds of Crime Act, legislation which has allowed Cumbria Trading Standards to not just prosecute him but to retrieve the money he made from his criminal activities. Bradshaw will pay a total of £105,000 including £18,000 costs and will be made to forfeit any equipment he used.

Cumbria County Councillor Gary Strong, Cabinet member for Cumbria Trading Standards, said; "I’m very pleased with this money being recouped.

"Counterfeiting is not a victimless crime. Traders of genuine stock are prejudiced, jobs can be lost and consumers end up with poor quality goods. This should act as a significant deterrent to anyone dealing in counterfeits."

Angela Jones, Cumbria Trading Standards manager, said: "This is the largest Proceeds of Crime award the department has received to date and shows that we will not just prosecute individuals engaged in this sort of criminal activity but will actively seek to take back any profits they have made by their criminal activities."

If Stephen Bradshaw fails to repay on time he will face a custodial sentence and will still have to repay all the money when released.

ENDS

Media enquiries to Media Officer Chris Little on 01228 226335.