A MAN has been prosecuted for selling counterfeit clothing, perfumes and aftershaves.

Christian Price, 20, pleaded guilty to nine charges at Newport Magistrates’ Court, after trading standards officers seized 100 fake items from him, with a street value of around £7,000. Price, of Heol-Yr-Ysgol, Ebbw Vale, received a three-year conditional discharge, and was ordered to pay costs of £844.33 and a victim surcharge of £80. An order was also made for the forfeiture and destruction of the goods.

A spokeswoman for Blaenau Gwent council said: “The case came to light when a trading standards officer from Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen County Borough Council conducted a routine inspection of Facebook and witnessed the individual advertising and selling potential counterfeit clothing, footwear, perfume, jewellery on the Blaenau Gwent Buy Sell and Swap group.

“Images were posted of goods purporting to be Pandora bracelets, Paco Rabanne perfume, Adidas and Hollister tracksuits, amongst others.”

The spokeswoman said further investigations identified Price was storing the goods at a property in Ebbw Vale. Officers executed an entry warrant at this property where approximately 100 counterfeit goods were seized,” she added. “If these items were genuine they would have a street value of approximately £6500 - £7000.” Garth Collier, the executive member for environment at Blaenau Gwent council, said: “The sale of counterfeit goods through social media sites such as Facebook is illegal and will not be tolerated.”