Fife online shopper’s complaint helped to break fake goods operation

Fife trading standards helped in an operation which resulted in a couple being jailed for a fake shoes scam.

Londoner Antoine Simhani (46), a civil servant, was jailed for 27 months at Kingston Crown Court in December. His former partner Fan Fanny Cheung (43) was given a 12-month suspended sentence.

It has emerged that the pair were arrested after a complaint by a Fife online consumer who bought what were advertised as Lelli Kelly shoes, which fell apart. A fair trading officer at Fife Council decided they were fake and sent them to Italy for examination.

It was confirmed they were counterfeit so the officer made a test purchase to confirm the identity of the seller and, in cooperation with Kingston upon Thames trading standards, a warrant was obtained to enter the seller’s premises.

Officers discovered 10,000 pairs of shoes at the couple’s home and PayPal records showed they had made £230,000 by selling Lelli Kelly and Disney fakes.

Fife Council enterprise, planning and protective services team leader John Geddes said: ”Were it not for the diligence and professional approach of the Fife officer these offences may never have come to light.”