Afghan refugee who spent years selling fake Louis Vuitton avoids jail
Afghan refugee, 30, who spent years selling fake Louis Vuitton bags from Camden Market stall avoids jail
- Mohammed Abdullah, 30, appeared at Southwark Crown Court for his crimes
An Afghan refugee who spent years selling fake Louis Vuitton bags from a stall in Camden Market has avoided jail.
Mohammed Abdullah, 30, who specialises in knock-off purses and handbags, was first convicted in 2017 when investigators from the designer and tech giant Apple made a series of test purchases.
But the following year he continued his crimes, and an undercover investigator purchased items from a shop on Camden High Road on three separate occasions.
Abdullah appeared at Southwark Crown Court wearing a blue and white striped shirt.
Donal Lawler, prosecuting, said: ‘This case concerns the sale of counterfeit namely counterfeit goods claiming to be Louis Vuitton items, and between 22 November and 15 December, 2018 three test purchases were made from the defendant were made from the defendant from a shop on Camden High Road.
Mohammed Abdullah, who spent years selling fake Louis Vuitton bags from a stall in Camden Market, has avoided jail after attending Southwark Crown Court (pictured) for his crimes
‘All the goods have subsequently been confirmed subsequently to be counterfeit.’
The first test purchase that the undercover investigator made was of a purse supposedly produced by Louis Vuitton on November 22, 2018.
It was priced at £20 – twenty five times less than the cost of a real Louis Vuitton purse.
‘Analysis of the purse showed a number of incorrect slots, inferior material, and most importantly, Louis Vuitton don’t make wallets with that type of pattern,’ Mr Lawler said.
An investigator made three further purchases from the store.
On December 6 the investigator bought a bag for £20, which is estimated to have cost £1,250 had it been genuine.
On December 18 they purchased another bag for £40, which would have cost £855 had it been a real Louis Vuitton bag.
Analysis of the material, the stitching, lining and embossing on the items confirmed that they were fake items.
‘The prosecution does not accept that he was a mere shop worker acting under the direction of others,’ Mr Lawler said.
James Manning, defending, said: ‘The defendant is supporting his family. His wife does not work and is receiving child benefits for their three children.’
Abdullah appeared at Southwark Crown Court wearing a blue and white striped shirt
The court heard that he was unable to attend his father’s funeral at the beginning of the year because of his immigration status, and was therefore unable to leave the country.
He has applied for permanent leave to remain but the Home Office had delayed resolving his application due to his pending criminal case.
‘He has been assessed as being at low risk of reoffending.’
Mr Manning also emphasised that Abdullah did not make significant amounts of money.
‘The defendant was selling the items for £20 or £40. Whatever financial gain made was modest.
‘There has been a significant delay in this case, and not just a delay, a delay that has detrimentally affected the defendant.’
Sentencing Abdullah, the judge Ms Recorder Joanne Clement said: ‘I am satisfied that none of the items were genuine Louis Vuitton items.
‘I take into account the lapse of time since the offending and your caring responsibilities for your young children.’
‘This is serious enough to require a community order.’
Abdullah, of Finchley, denied but was convicted of three counts of selling counterfeit goods, and one count of possessing counterfeit goods after a trial.
He was sentenced to a community order, which includes having to complete 150 hours unpaid work in the next 12 months.
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