Secured by Design has supported Plymouth Trading Standards in a Court case that has resulted in the Directors of a double glazing business being sentenced for using trade marks in support of their business without the correct authorisation, including the Secured by Design logo.
One of the Directors was sentenced on 8 April having previously pleaded guilty to one charge brought under The Fraud Act 2006 and three charges brought under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
Appearing in front of a Judge at Crown Court, the Director received three months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, for fraud. He also was sentenced to 240hrs of unpaid work, as well as being required to attend a rehabilitation activity for up to ten days and a Thinking Skills Programme.
For offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, he received three weeks’ custody on each offence, suspended for 18 months and to run concurrently.
He was also sentenced to three weeks’ custody, again suspended for 18 months, under the Bail Act for failing to attend Court.
He was banned for 10 years from being a Company Director.
The other Director was sentenced at a previous hearing.
A witness statement in support of the investigation was submitted to Plymouth Trading Standards Team in 2017 by Elaine Stone, Secured by Design’s Compliance Manager.
Jon Cole, Secured by Design’s Chief Operating Officer, commented: “Our members should be assured that we police the scheme and will take action against anyone misusing our logo or purporting to be Secured by Design members when they are not.”
Alex Fry, Trading Standards Manager with Plymouth City Council, said: “We would like to thank Secured by Design for their assistance with our investigation. We are always keen to work with organisations to protect the use of their logo. If anyone thinks a business is falsely using a logo they can report it to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03434 040506.”