A FACEBOOK trader from Cwmbran has been sentenced to a community order and fined after pleading guilty to offences relating to the sale and possession of nearly 150 counterfeit items.

Sarah Morgan, 49,Gifford Close, in Ty Coch, Cwmbran, appeared in Newport Magistrates Court on Friday, January 6, 2017, pleading guilty to 17 charges in relation to the fraudulent use of trademarks.

A Torfaen Trading Standards investigation revealed she had been selling items including clothing, footwear, jewellery, watches, cosmetics, headphones and speakers.

Some of the fake items were displaying the brands of Adidas, Nike, Armani, Apple, Timberland, Ralph Lauren, Cath Kidson, Louis Vuitton, UGG and Pandora.

She was given credit for her early guilty pleas but due to the number of offences and large amount of goods, she received a 12-month community order and 200 hours unpaid work.

The defendant was also ordered to pay costs of £150 and victim support of £85 and counterfeit items were forfeited and destroyed.

Torfaen Council's executive member for planning and public protection, Cllr Gwyneira Clark, said: “Legitimate businesses are undermined by criminal sellers of counterfeit goods which can be poor quality and even unsafe.

“I would therefore encourage residents to look for reputable or accredited sellers wherever possible.”

Anyone with information about counterfeit goods can ring the joint Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen Trading Standards team on 01633 647623 or e-mail trading.standards@torfaen.gov.uk