Halifax dad in court for selling 'knock-off' car parts from China on eBay

When Chaudhry Saeed’s home was raided in January this year, officers found more than 2,000 counterfeit items purporting to be from reputable manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz and Toyota, in his garage.

Bradford Crown Court was told that supermarket worker Saeed had received payments totalling more than £1,700 for items he had sold via eBay with further £7,848 paid into a PayPal account from other sales.

Saeed, of Reservoir Road in Pellon, admitted offences of fraud by false representation, possessing articles for use in fraud and possessing criminal property.

The 38-year-old, who had no previous convictions, had been operating two businesses selling the counterfeit car parts and his activities came to light after car company experts made test purchases from him.

Saeed’s offending was said to have covered a nine-month period between February and November last year.

Judge Graham Robinson said if the legitimate manufacturers had sold the proper, well manufactured and quality controlled products it would have totalled just under £187,000.

He told Saeed that what he had done would be horrifying to motorists who take their own personal safety seriously.

The judge said Saeed had been acquiring from China “knock-off” car parts which were pretending to be genuine car parts from reputable manufacturers and “flogging them off to unsuspecting motorists”.

Judge Robinson referred to possible scenarios were counterfeit brake pads could fail or a “knock-off” engine component might cause an explosion.

He said the offending was really serious and had to be marked with a prison sentence.

Barrister Ella Embleton-Brown, for Saeed, had bought parts for his own vehicle and then saw it as an opportunity.

“He knows that was frankly a stupid mistake and a significant lapse of judgment on his part,” she said.

But Mrs Embleton-Brown said there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in her client’s case and an immediate jail sentenced could lead to him losing his job with a detrimental impact on his family.

“I doubt that he would ever trouble the courts again,” submitted Mrs Embleton-Brown.

“This has been a significant wake-up call for him and he wishes to express his remorse for what he has done.”

Judge Robinson accepted that Saeed’s remorse was genuine and decided that his 12-month jail sentenced could be suspended for 18 months.

Saeed will also have to do 200 hours unpaid work for the community and he will face a further hearing under the Proceeds of Crown Act which could see him ordered to pay back money obtained through his criminal activities.