The final whistle has been blown on a Bracknell man who tried to rip footie fans off in the run up to the World Cup, by selling fake England shirts.
A stash of 25 counterfeit England football shirts was confiscated from the man’s Birch Hill home after a raid by Bracknell Forest Council trading standards officers and Thames Valley Police.
The Bracknell man had been selling fake shirts on online auction site eBay for up to £30 each, capitalising on England fans searching for a bargain in the run up to this summer’s World Cup.
Bracknell Trading standards officers have been working with sports giant Umbro to clamp down on unofficial sales flooding the football shirt market.
Robert Sexton, head of Bracknell trading standards and licensing, said: "We hope this sends a strong message to those involved in dealing with counterfeit goods that we will rigorously enforce the law, especially in this important run up to the World Cup.
"This only goes to emphasis the risks of buying supposedly genuine branded goods from online auction sites. We are aware of many consumers who have paid top price for these types of goods only to find that they have bought shoddy counterfeits."
The man has been cautioned by trading standards for the fake football shirts but consumers are warned to be extra vigilant in the next few months when trying to find a bargain.
Cllr Iain McCracken, executive member for Bracknell public protection, said: "This case highlights just how important it is to not get sucked into a bargain deal without questioning the authenticity of the product.
"There are many unscrupulous people out there who wouldn’t think twice about ripping you off, so the general advice is purchase from established retailers and that if a deal seems too good to be true then it usually is."
Bracknell Forest Council