Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider SAT 5TH JUL 2025    2:52:15 PM BST
This site uses cookies, by continuing to use this site you accept the terms of our privacy policy
Back To Top
Caithness.Org Quick Links
Home
Construction
Leisure
Manufacturing
Misc.
Primary
Professional
Public
Retail
Tourism
Transport
Site Map
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Feed 2.0 Loading...

Trading Standards take action against Caithness counterfeiter

17th January 2019

Following a Highland Council Trading Standards investigation, Wick Sheriff Court has imposed a court order on a 42 year old local woman who was found to be selling counterfeit goods. The Order places stringent restrictions on her future conduct and any breach of it can lead to a hefty fine or imprisonment.

After a lengthy investigation into the selling of ‘designer fake goods' on Facebook a warrant was executed on Sarah Jane Farmer of Wick in May 2018. Farmer was caught in possession of 188 counterfeit items including handbags, football strips, clothing, and footwear, sunglasses, aftershave and perfume. The brand names attributed to the counterfeit items included Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, UGG, Chanel, Nike, Adidas, Gucci, North Face, Superdry, Calvin Klein, Fila, Sketcher, Tommy Hilfiger, Ellesse, Dolce & Gabbana, Rayban, Liverpool FC, Moncler and Van.

The total estimated High Street value of the seizure was over £30,000.

During the on-going Trading Standards investigation Farmer was found to be continuing to sell through social media. After a joint operation with Border Force, Farmer was stopped at Edinburgh Airport on 24th October 2018 and over 100 further counterfeit items were seized, with a High Street value of over £16,000.

An Enforcement Order under section 217 of the Enterprise Act 2002 was granted which prohibits Farmer from selling or having in her possession counterfeit goods. Further measures were granted which stipulate Ms Farmer requires to notify Highland Council Trading Standards if she is planning to fly to Turkey where she was buying the counterfeit goods. She is also required to advise Trading Standards what social media or online classified selling accounts she owns, operates or posts content upon. These were the channels she used to sell the fake items.

David MacKenzie, Highland Council's Trading Standards Manager, said:

"This type of crime undermines legitimate Highland businesses, deceives consumers and damages the interests of those who own the intellectual property rights of the trade marks which are been copied.

"We urge the public to show their support by not buying this illegal trade which is ultimately controlled at production level by serious criminals who fund terrorism, trafficking and slavery. Those who choose to supply fakes in the Highlands will be investigated and strongly dealt with."

If anyone has any information about the sale of counterfeit goods, they can let Trading Standards know anonymously online at the Highland Council website: www.highland.gov.uk/counterfeits

Farmer will be monitored for five years in which time if she breaches the conditions of the Enforcement Order she will be in contempt of court which would enable further proceedings to be taken against her. If a breach of the Enforcement Order is found - this could result in a heavy fine or a prison sentence.

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

3/7/2025
Bringing more empty homes back into use
Additional empty homes officers are being recruited to bring more privately owned houses back into use.   The new posts are being supported as part of a £2 million investment through the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership in 2025-26 which will see staff take a more proactive and targeted approach to tackling local housing issues.  
2/7/2025
Community-Led Local Development Fund distributes over £900k to support projects in Highland
The Highland Strategic Local Action Group (LAG) met in June 2025 and considered and agreed funding for 28 projects submitted to the Community-Led Local Development fund (CLLD), which makes up part of The Highland Council Community Regeneration Fund (CRF) programme.   CRF is an umbrella term used to cover multiple external funding programmes administered by The Highland Council.  
2/7/2025
Community benefits funding delivers educational resources to Highland schoolsThumbnail for article : Community benefits funding delivers educational resources to Highland schools
Highland Council has provided 12 ‘Talking Tub' resources for use in primary schools across the Highlands, in partnership with Union Technical who deliver community benefits as part of the Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Scheme programme.   Chair of Highland Council's Education Committee, Councillor John Finlayson, said: "This is a fantastic initiative being rolled out across Highland primary schools which brings innovation and inspiration to early years children.  
1/7/2025
Additional bins will help keep popular visitor spots tidy
Visitors will find it easier to dispose of their litter at several popular spots across Highland after the rollout of additional bins.  The rollout has been planned to support the tourism season as part of the Council's ongoing commitment to improve and support sustainable tourism in the area.  
27/6/2025
Accounts Commission commends Highland Council's culture of transformation
Members of the meeting of The Highland Council (26 June 2025) have considered and agreed the Accounts Commission's Best Value report, which was published in April 2025 and highlights organisational improvements across leadership, performance management and community engagement.   In April’s report, the Accounts Commission recognised and welcomed significant progress within the organisation since the 2020 Best Value Assurance Report (BVAR) and commended the embedded culture of transformation.  
27/6/2025
Thurso masterplan and community POD progress update
A new generation of community facilities is being planned for the Highlands.   At a meeting of The Highland Council (Thursday 26 June), elected members approved the work to date in progressing the Highland Investment Plan workstreams - masterplan for Thurso and agreed to nominate the current Thurso High School site as the preferred location for the new Thurso Community Point of Delivery (POD).  
27/6/2025
Highland Housing Challenge partnership makes positive strides
At a meeting of The Highland Council (Thursday 26 June 2025), Members received a progress report on the partnership approach and important successes since declaring a Highland Housing Challenge in November 2023.   Since establishing the ambitious Highland Housing Challenge, important successes included: A call for sites delivered 250 sites, with a potential 25,000 housing units which will support delivery against the target of an additional 12,000 houses over the next 10 years.  
25/6/2025
Highland Council to deliver housing energy efficiency upgrades with ECO funding
The Highland Council will deliver a transformative programme of energy efficiency upgrades across Council housing supported by a £9.2 million Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funding proposal secured by Union Technical.   The funding proposal will deliver approximately 1,000 individual energy efficiency measures to Council owned properties across the Highlands.  
18/6/2025
Look to See - a Refugee Week exhibition by young people
As part of the Highland Council's celebration of Refugee Week - 16 to 22 June - we are delighted to announce that a sharing of photographs, taken by separated young people seeking asylum living within the Highlands, is to be shown at Eden Court Arts Centre, Inverness.   Look to See, which ties in with the theme for this year’s Refugee Week - Community as a Superpower - emerges out of a collaboration between multiple agencies working alongside separated young people seeking asylum, embodying the importance of community and connection, when looking to support all young people in the Highlands.  
12/6/2025
Highland Youth Parliament Future Youth Voice Conference
The annual Highland Youth Parliament (HYP) conference will take place at Inverness Leisure and Canal Park, Inverness on Friday (13th June 2025).   Highland young people are focusing on future youth voices and what they would like a future Highland to look like.