A REDDITCH woman has been ordered to pay nearly £1,000 compensation and given a Community Punishment Order after selling fake designer handbags using the eBay online auction site.
Sabrina Butt, of Prospect Road, Lakeside, pleaded guilty to four charges under the Trademarks Act at Worcester Magistrates Court on Friday, February 18.
She was accused of supplying fake versions of brands such as Louis Vitton and Christian Dior to online customers.
Magistrates ordered Butt to complete a 240-hour Community Punishment Order and pay compensation of £965 to the victims of her scam. She also has to pay £250 costs.
Worcestershire trading standards officer David Hough said: "The emergence of online auctions such as eBay has increased the potential for people to commit this type of offence.
"While ebay itself takes every precaution to protect their customers, it is up to the individual to ensure the product they are buying is genuine.
"In this case, the consumers became suspicious of how genuine the products were when they received what they believed to be Louis Vitton and Christian Dior handbags.
"If you do buy anything in this way, ensure you check authenticity as far as you are able and if you are suspicious, do not hesitate to contact our advice officers."
Trading standards officers' suspicions were raised when they began to receive complaints from consumers in other trading standards authorities like Leicestershire, Surrey and Nottingham about Butt's activities.
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