Fake goods cost hairdresser £6k

A CARDIFF hairdresser was found in possession of more than 1,500 illegal items including unsafe children’s costumes and counterfeit Pokemon toys, a court heard.

Andreas Lazarou, who has a barbers shop in Tudor Street in Riverside, pleaded guilty to 12 charges when he appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court.

A further 32 offences were taken into account by the magistrates.

Cardiff council said the charges stemmed from an investigation by the Shared Regulatory Services in July last year following information that shop Ialpha World, at 373 Cowbridge Road East, Canton, was selling counterfeit children’s fancy dress outfits.

On October 11, 2016, Ialpha World was raided by trading standards officers and 1,534 items were seized.

The shop was rented and run by a company called Ialpha Hair Ltd and Lazarou, of Hanson Court, Heol Glan Rheidol in Cardiff, was one of two directors who owned this company.

Samples from all the items taken were sent to specialists to find out if they were genuine and whether they met all safety requirements.

It was revealed that all of the children’s superhero costumes were counterfeit and samples from all of the other items failed at least one of the safety requirements, including drawstrings that were deemed to be a strangulation hazard and internal fibrous material that was deemed to be a choking hazard.

A later interview with Lazarou revealed that he was solely responsible for sourcing and purchasing all of the illegal items found by trading standards officers, the council said.

During the hearing, in mitigation, Lazarou’s representative Brendon O’Leary, told the court that he was a hairdresser by trade and established Ialpha Hair Ltd as a separate venture to supplement his income.

Lazarou said he started the business without any knowledge or qualifications in the industry and did not know what he was getting himself into and the offences were a result of complete naivety.

He bought the goods from the internet and believed they were legitimate and had even paid VAT when they were imported into the UK.

It was also made clear that Lazarou gave a full and frank interview under caution and provided trading standards with assistance throughout the investigation.

Lazarou was fined £350 for each offence relating to the counterfeit goods and £500 for each of the safety offences. The total fine imposed was £5,400 and he was also ordered to pay £1,000 in costs and a victim surcharge of £50.

Coun Michael Michael, cabinet member with responsibility for the Shared Regulatory Service between Bridgend, Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan councils, said: “This case shows how important it is to check and check again before importing goods from abroad to be sold in the UK.

“Safety standards are in place for a reason. I would like to thank all of the officers involved in this investigation.

“The fine imposed by the court sends a clear message that these offences are taken seriously.

“Our officers will continue to act on any intelligence we receive to take unsafe and counterfeit goods off the streets.”

Ialpha Hair Ltd went into liquidation on September 23, 2016.