Ebay obsessive jailed for money laundering

An Epsom man has been sentenced to three years in prison for selling counterfeit DVDs, and for laundering £500,000.

Trevor Pegg, 61, was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court earlier this month, and must serve half of his three year term.

Pegg was convicted on 13 counts in December last year, of participating in fraudulent business carried out by a sole trader. He was also convicted of money laundering and breaching the Trade Marks Act.

Between 2010 and 2013, the 61-year-old sold counterfeit DVDs through online sites such as eBay and Play.

Rupert Hallowes, defending, said "This is a defendant who has lived an unblemished work life, he had a long career with Safeways, he was self-employed and then developed an enthusiasm for selling items on eBay."

Mr Hallowes told the court that Pegg's criminal conduct "coincided with his mother's increasing frailty" and eventual death in 2012. He added, "This is more a case of recklessness, the defendant had developed an obsession with eBay trading."

Surrey County Council Trading Standards investigations and enforcement manager, Steve Playle, said "He was clearly breaking the law and cash was seized by Trading Standards. There is going to be a confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act, there will be a financial penalty along with the criminal sentence."

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Notting Hill Fraud Solicitors