Wiltshire Trading Standards has secured a suspended prison sentence and costs of almost £13,000 against a woman who repeatedly sold counterfeit handbags despite advice and warnings.
Some of the counterfeit handbags found at Kreuanarong’s house (image credit: Wiltshire Council)
Between December 2020 and February 2021, Wiltshire Trading Standards received several complaints that Kesini Kreuanarong (46), of Salisbury, was selling counterfeit designer handbags through Facebook. Officers advised her that her actions were illegal, although she claimed that she was selling her own personal items.
A further complaint was received in August 2021 from someone who had purchased 70 counterfeit handbags from Krueanarong via a Facebook page on which she had advertised items for sale.
In August and September 2021, UK Border Force sent warning letters to Krueanarong after they intercepted packages addressed to her arriving from Thailand which contained more counterfeit handbags.
Following intelligence that Krueanarong was continuing to sell fake designer handbags through Facebook, Trading Standards Officers executed a warrant at her home in June 2022. During the raid, 361 handbags were seized and following examination, 344 of these were subsequently found to be counterfeit. Brands included Giorgio Armani, Versace, Burberry, Chanel, Celine, Dior, Givenchy, Hermes, Longchamp, Louis Vuitton, MCM, Prada, Miu Miu and YSL.
Kreuanarong pleaded guilty at Salisbury Crown Court on 2 August to 15 counts of being in possession of counterfeit designer handbags in the course of running a business. She was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. She must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £12,958 and a victim surcharge.
Councillor Dominic Muns, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “We are pleased to have exposed this fraudulent activity and brought Ms Krueanarong to justice. We hope that this sentence will serve as a warning and a deterrent both to her and anyone else participating in this form of activity.”
