Gainsborough: Pair have admitted to selling counterfeit CDs and DVDs

Susan Alderman and Christopher Talbot each pleaded guilty at Lincoln Crown Court on Monday to six offences of the unauthorised use of a trademark following an investigation by Lincolnshire Trading Standards.

Two of the charges relate to the sale at Gainsborough of Lionel Richie’s CD ‘Tuskegee’ and The Killers’ CD ‘Battle Born’ on 25th February 2013.

The other four charges involve offences at Gainsborough on 15th August 2013 which include CDs by Rod Stewart, Justin Bieber and Rammstein as well as the compilation CD Now That’s What I Call Music 83.

Both Alderman and Talbot denied a further charge of conspiring together to sell counterfeit goods between 6th March 2012 and 14th August 2013 involving the importation and distribution of CDs and DVDs.

The prosecution told the court this charge is not to be pursued and asked for it to be left to lie on the file.

David Eager, defending, told the court that the defendants have agreed to pay the prosecution’s costs so far of £5,000.

He told the court: “I ask for a pre-sentence report.”

“They are both of previous good character.”

“There is some element here of selling over the internet and importation.”

“It may well be a case where the court feels a community penalty is more appropriate.”

Alderman ,57, of Morton Terrace, Gainsborough, and Talbot ,47, of Portland Street, Gainsborough, were each granted unconditional bail by Recorder Gareth Evans QC who adjourned to allow time for the probation service to prepare reports on them.

They will appear back before the Crown Court for sentence on 15th September.

Recorder Evans postponed a decision on an application by the prosecution to seize the available assets of the defendants under the Proceeds of Crime Act.