A Burntwood couple who sold fake perfumes have been ordered to pay costs more than £1,000.
Paul Adams, 46, and 38-year-old Louise Caunt from Oakdene Road were also given an 18-month conditional discharge after pleading guilty to 12 trademark offences at North Staffordshire Magistrates Court.
The court heard that the goods contained dangerous levels of toxic methanol in the goods which, if genuine, would have been worth £175,000.
They were caught after police and trading standards raided a property in Burntwood after fake items were being advertised for sale on social media. Among the items were fake Christian Dior perfume and counterfeit electrical goods.
Cllr Gill Heath, from Staffordshire County Council, said: “Our trading standards team acted decisively on what could have been a serious public health risk. In addition the sale of such goods would damage local businesses selling legitimate goods.
“The sentence may well have been more severe had the couple not been carers. We would again like to remind people of the dangers of counterfeit goods and be particularly careful if buying online.”
