Wedding dress sellers misled their customers

TWO wedding dress sellers have admitted misleading customers by telling them dresses that were made in China were “bespoke” and “handmade” in their own workshop.

Melanie Bishop and Patricia Bishop were trading at Anna Sara Bridal in Commercial Street in Newport at the time of the offences, which relate to more than a dozen clients.

Cardiff Crown Court heard 60-year-old Patricia Bishop told a customer all the dresses were “unique”.

Their case was listed for a plea hearing before Judge Patrick Curran QC yesterday.

Prosecutors said there were 38 counts on the indictment under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

Melanie Bishop, 36, from Ivy Bush Cottages in Oakdale, Blackwood, admitted 16 counts of being engaged in unfair commercial practice.

Patricia Bishop, from the same address, also admitted 16 counts of being engaged in unfair commercial practice.

The charges relate to the period between March 2015 and July 2016.

Both defendants admitted misleading customers by stating the dresses were bespoke and handmade by themselves.

They accepted claiming they had designed and made the dresses themselves.

The pair pleaded guilty to failing to inform customers the wedding dresses were actually made in China, falsely stating they would be made in their local workshop.

Melanie and Patricia Bishop admitted their behaviour was likely to distort the behaviour of the average consumer.

Prosecutors said their pleas were acceptable to the Crown and the rest will lie on file.

Their barrister said both women were of previous “good character” and asked for a presentence report.

Both were granted unconditional bail until their sentencing hearing on Friday, March 9.

Judge Curran told them he will not be the sentencing judge and warned them: “All appropriate sentencing options are open.”