A TRIO of counterfeit barons who ran a nationwide Ebay empire of dodgy goods from Rowley Regis have been brought to justice.

Sandwell Council trading standards officers launched an investigation and successfully prosecuted the three after proving they had defrauded customers out of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Jason Messenger, aged 38, of Britannia Road, Rowley Regis, was jailed for 18 months under the Trade Marks Act of selling counterfeit trainers, clothing, perfumes, handbags and sunglasses on Ebay.

Trading standards officers and police raided Messenger’s home and found thousands of pounds worth of fake Nike, Timberland, Adidas and Lacoste trainers, along with other counterfeit clothing, perfume, handbags and sunglasses.

Messenger’s nephew Kevin Gibbons, aged 27 of Ascot Close, Oldbury, was also convicted of selling counterfeit trainers and t-shirts following a separate internet investigation.

This linked Gibbons and Messenger with Simon Jones, aged 30 of Midhill Drive, Rowley Regis, who was also selling fake trainers on eBay.

Sandwell Council’s trading standards manager Bob Robinson said: "Trading on the internet is now available 24/7 and fraudsters have infiltrated the market which has increased the risk to consumers.

"The government has recently announced that it intends to support the Trading Standards Service by providing additional funding to train officers to investigate internet trading.

"I am certain we shall see more of this type of case – but we will be able to better protect out consumers."

Wolverhampton Crown Court, sitting at the Waterfront in Brierley Hill on Tuesday (March 16), heard the trio’s deception would have cost the counterfeited brands involved £391,540.

Jason Messenger pleaded guilty to nine counts of possessing goods with a false trade mark for sale and two counts of fraud. He also admitted falsely bidding on his own items to drive up the price – known as "shill bidding" or "shilling" on eBay – and was prosecuted under the Fraud Act.

Kevin Gibbons pleaded guilty to 10 counts of possessing goods with a false trade mark for sale, He was given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Simon Jones pleaded guilty to five counts of the possessing goods with a false trade mark. He was given a nine month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and 120 hours of unpaid work in the community.

All three now face Proceeds of Crime hearings.

Sandwell Council's deputy leader and cabinet member for neighbourhoods and housing, Cllr Mahboob Hussain, said: “Once again Sandwell Council trading standards have done some excellent work.

"This was fraud on a major scale.

"One of our trading standards officers uncovered the fraud ring through investigations on the Ebay website.

"Thousands of Ebay buyers paid for genuine trainers, clothing and other items and what they received were counterfeit items.”