A HARD-WORKING father who is in a position of responsibility at a major supermarket chain has been sentenced for the “extremely industrious” selling of fake clothing which included Man City, Liverpool, Man United and Arsenal football kits.
Sajid Hussain, 44, of Mill Race Lane in the Girlington area of Bradford, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of selling goods bearing, or the packaging of which bore, a sign identical to, or likely to be mistaken for, a registered trademark.
Bradford Crown Court heard how there was “significant planning” in Hussain’s solo operation, including the use of multiple platforms – such as Facebook Marketplace – different identities and different emails.
This selling continued over a “significant period of time”, according to Mr Recorder David Gordon.
Mr Gordon said: “I don’t think this was a particularly sophisticated offence but there was significant planning.”
Hussain was importing fake goods and selling them for £28 a strip, the court heard.
At one point, Hussain bought 809 items on Ebay from abroad over the space of a year.
Recorder Gordon explained the actual value of the authentic items would have been much more, referring to his own experience of kits costing £80.
Recorder Gordon sentenced Hussain to a 12-month community order, with the 44-year-old required to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.
He said it would not be easy for Hussain given he is a hard worker and does not have much spare time.
But he added: “You’ve shown yourself to be extremely industrious in these counterfeit goods and I know you will be equally as industrious with the community order.”
The offences were deemed to be between high and medium culpability by Recorder Gordon.
He said: “This wasn’t group activity, nor was there coercion, intimidation or exploitation.”
In mitigation, the court heard Hussain has no previous convictions, is a hard worker and has a number of people who are dependent on him.
Recorder Gordon said: “He is a man in his mid-40s, with no previous convictions, married with two children, who are dependent on him.
“He’s a hard worker. He works for Morrisons, he worked his way up from the bottom to a position of responsibility.”
Mr Hussain also looks after his wife who has Lupus and his mother, who is in her 80s, and is not in the best of health.
The offences are currently being investigated in relation to Proceeds of Crime, the court heard.
This will ultimately determine how much Hussain benefited from the selling of the fake goods.
Recorder Gordon said he would postpone any order of payment – fine, surcharge and costs – until that was concluded.
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