A PAIR accused of selling more than £20,000 worth of counterfeit goods on the streets of Swindon will face prosecution at Swindon Crown Court next month.

Darren Roberts, 46, and Michaela Roberts, 43, of Redhouse Way, stood charged with 17 counts of possessing goods with a false trademark for sale and one of concealing criminal property at Swindon Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Officers from the police and Trading Standards executed a search warrant on the Roberts’ address last summer to find a vast quantity of suspect goods which were later confirmed to be counterfeit by the relevant manufacturers.

The pair will now return to court on October 3 to enter an early guilty plea and will face a proceeds of crime hearing, where the court will seek to reclaim the value of the hoard of goods, which included trainers, handbags, T-shirts and bracelets.

Phil Wirth, prosecuting, told the court the value of the products found at the home amounted to thousands of pounds.

“The position is both these defendants have been trading in counterfeit goods,” he said.

“At about 6.05am on June 6 last year Trading Standards along with police officers went to the defendants’ property where they executed a search warrant.

“There they found Mrs Roberts, who was later joined by Mr Roberts.

“Officers went to the back garden and into the garden shed where the found a significant quantity of branded, packaged goods.

“Upon examination it was concluded that they were thought to be counterfeit and a selection were sent off, when it was confirmed by the owners of the marks used on the goods.

“Trading Standards officers also obtained access to a locked garage, which contained several boxes of mixed branded goods, which were also sent off for examination and agin the items were found to be counterfeit.

“Mr and Mrs Roberts were arrested and taken to Gablecross police station to be interviewed. Mrs Roberts gave an account of her involvement which she said was peripheral.

“She said she helped out Mr Roberts, who gave a no comment interview.”

Officers also investigated the phones records of the pair which suggested a substantial operation.

“Further investigation led to a second interview where Mr Roberts indicated he was responsible for the trading,” said Mr Wirth.

“There was examination of phone correspondence which revealed a completely different picture to the one which he gave. Mrs Roberts was clearly involved in selling goods to a wide range of individuals, both purchasing and contributing.

“Investigations revealed the proceeds of crime were in excess of £20,000.”

Both defendants will appear at Swindon Crown Court on October 3.