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Fans 'conned in autograph scam' Fans 'conned in autograph scam'
(29 minutes later)
Sports fans were conned into spending thousands of pounds on faked autographs of their heroes, a jury was told.Sports fans were conned into spending thousands of pounds on faked autographs of their heroes, a jury was told.
Autographs of Jonny Wilkinson and David Beckham were "systematically" forged and sold by Graeme Walker,and Faisal Madani, Chester Crown Court heard.Autographs of Jonny Wilkinson and David Beckham were "systematically" forged and sold by Graeme Walker,and Faisal Madani, Chester Crown Court heard.
Mr Walker, 45, of Connah's Quay, North Wales, denies more than 50 counts of cheating customers at his shop, Chester's Sporting Icons Limited.Mr Walker, 45, of Connah's Quay, North Wales, denies more than 50 counts of cheating customers at his shop, Chester's Sporting Icons Limited.
Mr Madani, 43, of Stockport, denies 20 counts of supplying the forgeries.Mr Madani, 43, of Stockport, denies 20 counts of supplying the forgeries.
Other stars whose signatures were forged include Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Michael Owen and Sir Alex Ferguson, the court was told.Other stars whose signatures were forged include Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Michael Owen and Sir Alex Ferguson, the court was told.
Some of them are expected to give evidence, or have statements read to the jury, next week.Some of them are expected to give evidence, or have statements read to the jury, next week.
The court heard signatures of David Beckham were systematically forged Mr Walker, of Mountain View Close, and Mr Madani, of Grange Road, Stockport, Greater Manchester, are accused of trading the goods from Sporting Icons and also on the internet auction site eBay.The court heard signatures of David Beckham were systematically forged Mr Walker, of Mountain View Close, and Mr Madani, of Grange Road, Stockport, Greater Manchester, are accused of trading the goods from Sporting Icons and also on the internet auction site eBay.
They claim the goods were bought in good faith and from reputable sources.They claim the goods were bought in good faith and from reputable sources.
Andrew Thomas QC, prosecuting, opened the trial, saying: "Those charges are only a sample of the many hundreds of forged and counterfeit goods either sold or offered for sale by Sporting Icons.Andrew Thomas QC, prosecuting, opened the trial, saying: "Those charges are only a sample of the many hundreds of forged and counterfeit goods either sold or offered for sale by Sporting Icons.
"It would have been impossible to track down all the international stars and the representative bodies responsible for authenticating them.""It would have been impossible to track down all the international stars and the representative bodies responsible for authenticating them."
He said some customers paid premium prices, hundreds or even thousands of pounds, in the belief they were buying genuine goods.He said some customers paid premium prices, hundreds or even thousands of pounds, in the belief they were buying genuine goods.
The jurors were told that Sporting Icons did not just sell sporting memorabilia, they also sold autographs and pictures of musical and Hollywood stars including the Beatles, Nat King Cole and Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa.The jurors were told that Sporting Icons did not just sell sporting memorabilia, they also sold autographs and pictures of musical and Hollywood stars including the Beatles, Nat King Cole and Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa.
'Betrayed trust''Betrayed trust'
Most of the fraud took place in 2005, Mr Thomas said.Most of the fraud took place in 2005, Mr Thomas said.
He said: "The defendants were involved in selling effectively worthless items to the public.He said: "The defendants were involved in selling effectively worthless items to the public.
"The defendants, we say, betrayed the trust of the public. In short, they were ripping fans off.""The defendants, we say, betrayed the trust of the public. In short, they were ripping fans off."
He told the jury that in 2002 Mr Madani had paid George Best compensation of £10,000 after he was caught selling fake autographs of the footballing legend.He told the jury that in 2002 Mr Madani had paid George Best compensation of £10,000 after he was caught selling fake autographs of the footballing legend.
He also told them how Beckham fans had seen adverts for autographed pictures of their idol and reported Sporting Icons to Trading Standards.He also told them how Beckham fans had seen adverts for autographed pictures of their idol and reported Sporting Icons to Trading Standards.
Mr Thomas said this was not a case of a few "rogue items slipping through the net". Mr Thomas said this case involved about 140 separate items, and was not a case of a few "rogue items slipping through the net".
"Of the autographed goods examined in this investigation - about 140 separate items - the overwhelming majority proved to be forgeries," he said.
The trial continues.The trial continues.