Rock T-shirt bootlegger jailed after Tottenham factory raid (From Haringey Independent)

Rock T-shirt bootlegger jailed after Tottenham factory raid

12:52pm Friday 12th March 2010 in

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A BOOTLEG T-shirt factory operating in Tottenham has been shut down after the man behind it was caught and jailed on Monday.

Mark Blenkiron, 46, was the brains behind Shock Horror Limited, in Conway Road, Tottenham, which ran a thriving counterfeit T-shirt scam.

The T-shirts were emblazoned with registered trade marks of legendary rock bands like Queen, Led Zeppelin and Guns N' Roses and sold wholesale or via the internet without proper authorisation to reproduce the logos.

Blenkiron, of Norwich, was jailed for 15 months following an investigation by Haringey Council trading standards officers.

He pleaded guilty to manufacturing and supplying the fake goods at Wood Green Crown Court, in Lordship Lane.

Councillor Nilgun Canver, cabinet member for enforcement and safer communities, said: "This is a major success for our trading standards team following a lengthy and complex investigation.

"The courts are sending out a clear message to counterfeiters that these types of offences are serious and will be severely punished.

"Not only has this man been sent to prison, but he may well have to pay back all the money he made dishonestly."

Blenkiron was rumbled after the fake T-shirts turned up in Camden Market and had a tip-off they had come from the Haringey area.

Their investigations led them to Blenkiron's printing factory in Tottenham which they raided alongside police and uncovered up to 8,648 of the garments, printing machines, silk screens and artwork templates bearing the trademarks of the bands.

A second raid was carried out at a Blenkiron's former home in Westbury Avenue, Wood Green, which was also the company's registered office.

Computers and business documents were seized and the true extent of his crime became clear.

The seized T-shirts had an estimated street value of £43,000 and Haringey police's financial investigation unit has now started proceedings to force Blenkiron to repay the money he made from sales.