A man who sold luxury counterfeit watches has been jailed for 12 months after authorities raided his business premises in June 2015.
Jamie Paul Thorpe, from Brighton, was also handed an eight-year Bankruptcy Restrictions Undertaking for failing to pay the correct taxes.
According to reports, Mr Thorpe made over £659,000 selling counterfeit Rolex watches trading under the name Ludgate Watches.
The authorities were first notified to the operation after one of his eBay victims complained to Trading Standards in December 2014. The report shows that Mr Thorpe has sold the victim a fake luxury watch for £2,425 and provided tampered official Rolex warranty booklets to aid the scam.
A search of Ludgate Watches premises followed, resulting in West Sussex Trading Standards seizing a range of luxury goods, valued at £100,000 in total. All of the watches in Mr Thorpe’s possession were confirmed to be counterfeit by the original manufacturer.
In total, the authorities estimated that the man pocketed more than £659,000 from selling counterfeit goods.
Pleading guilty to selling the items, Mr Thorpe was handed a 12-month jail sentence – suspended for two years – and 180 hours of community service for trade mark offences. A £28,000 confiscation order was also levied against the fraudster following a Proceeds of Crime investigation.
A third inquiry into the business also resulted in an eight-year Bankruptcy Order made against the man for failing to pay the correct taxes.
Commenting on the case, a spokeswoman for West Sussex Trading Standards said: “After the initial prosecution, West Sussex Trading Standards carried out an investigation into Jamie Thorpe’s assets.
“Once it was decided what the defendant had to pay back, the hearing was scheduled based on the court’s availability.
“Jamie Thorpe offered to pay the sum of £28,000 on the day of the hearing.”
Liesl Cook, Official Receiver for the Insolvency Service, added: “Eight years of extended bankruptcy restrictions is a significant result. It serves as a clear warning to others attempting to deceive customers, whether online or in person, that, when you are caught, we will seriously curtail your activities.”
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