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David Aaronberg QC secures acquittals in vast trading standards prosecution

The largest ever prosecution by York Trading Standards came to an abrupt end at Leeds Crown Court on 14th September 2010 when, on the fifth day of trial, the Crown conceded that the case should be abandoned.

The proprietors of S & J Jewellery, a Manchester firm, had been prosecuted for alleged trademark offences in respect of more than 165,000 separate items of stock. It was claimed that millions of pounds of revenue had been lost to Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and other well-known ‘designer' brands.

The trial - the first of two due to be held in respect of the total alleged offending - became untenable when major continuity errors in relation to the preservation of exhibits were exposed in cross-examination. The Crown conceded that, in the circumstances, it would be unrealistic to attempt to proceed with the second trial and not guilty verdicts were entered on all counts on both indictments.

16 September 2010

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