Weston-super-Mare counterfeiter prosecuted by North Somerset Council

A Weston-super-Mare man who sold counterfeit music and football t‑shirts through several different online platforms has been handed a suspended six-month prison sentence after a detailed investigation by North Somerset Council.

Peter Clanford pleaded guilty at North Somerset Magistrates Court to the manufacture and sale of fake clothing featuring a range of well-known trademarks, including those of The Beatles, Metallica and the FA’s famous Three Lions.

The offences came to light after brand protection agency Surelock Limited identified hundreds of Mr Clanford’s copycat t-shirts being sold on eBay. Further checks by the council’s Trading Standards service across various other online platforms including Etsy and his own website, revealed Mr Clanford had made around £26,000 from the sale of counterfeit goods over a nine‑month period.

A warrant executed at Mr Clanford’s home uncovered a sophisticated, high‑end printing operation used to manufacture the fake t-shirts. Officers seized printing equipment, computers and clothing during the search. Official suppliers to the music and football industries assisted with the investigation, confirming in every case that the items were counterfeit.

Mr Clanford pleaded guilty to four counts of unauthorised manufacture, possession and distribution of trademarks. He was sentenced to six months in custody, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay £8,767 in prosecution costs.

Councillor James Clayton, North Somerset Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, Sport and Pride in Place programme, said: 

“We want our communities to be caring, healthy, and safe. Our Trading Standards officers uncovered a complex counterfeiting operation specifically designed to defraud legitimate trademark holders and mislead consumers by selling cheap, unlicensed copies.

“North Somerset Council will not hesitate to act where such activity is found, and I am pleased the court has imposed a significant sanction.”

Jake Alford, Brand Protection Manager at Surelock International Limited said: 

“We and our clients in the music industry are extremely grateful for the professionalism and hard work of North Somerset Council’s Trading Standards service.

“This operator was mass-selling counterfeits of our clients’ merchandise across multiple platforms. On the day of enforcement, officers discovered a highly sophisticated setup which enabled the operator to manufacture to order and sell globally. We are very pleased that all the hard work put into this case has achieved such a positive result.”

Members of the public can report concerns about suspected counterfeit goods to the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133, or via the online form or chat service at www.citizensadvice.org.uk.