A DUO from Wokingham have pleaded guilty to conspiring to sell counterfeit goods.

James Weller and Jade Wyllie, both of Ormonde Road, both appeared at Reading Crown Court where they pleaded guilty to considering to sell and/or expose for sale counterfeit goods.

The offence was alleged to have taken place between February 25, 2013 and March 8, 2016.

The pair were also sentenced on one count of converting or transferring property, namely money, knowing or suspecting it to be criminal property, during the same time period.

Joining them in the dock was Jade Jewell of Wansbeck Green, Taunton, who was also sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of conspiring with Weller and/or with persons unknown to sell and expose for sale counterfeit goods and one count of converting or transferring money, knowing or suspecting it to be criminal property, between February 25, 2015 and June 30, 2014.

The sentencing on Friday, April 27 followed a long and complex investigation by the Public Protection Partnership (PPP) trading standards service.

In passing sentence His Honour Judge Dugdale stated that the trio had effectively stolen someone else’s intellectual property rights and said it was nothing short of theft.

He also described Mr Weller and Ms Wyllie as being ‘extensively involved’ and was ‘quite sure’ they were both aware that trading standards would eventually get involved. He considered Weller to be the ‘driving force’ with a view to making profit and while he accepted that Jewell had less involvement, she was nevertheless aware that what she was doing was wrong.

Weller was handed a 16 month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, a 12 month community order of 200 hours of unpaid work, and ordered to attend an accredited programme for 30 sessions.

Wyllie was given a nine month suspended sentence, and a 12 month Community Order requiring her to complete 200 hours unpaid work.

Jewell was sentenced to a 12 month community order of 120 hours unpaid work, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £60.

Cllr Norman Jorgensen, chairman of the Public Protection Partnership Management Board said: “This was a very complex investigation which drew on skills from across the Public Protection Partnership. The penalties which, included two suspended prison sentences, clearly indicate the severity of the offences in that the defendants did not just sell counterfeit goods but conspired with others to do so. We would like to acknowledge the support of our colleagues from Reading Borough Council for their support."