Sporting Icons duo get a trade life ban

Jun 6 2008 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

A MEMORABILIA dealer jailed for selling fake autographs and his wife can never work in the trade again.

Graeme and Tracey Walker, who ran Watergate Row-based Sporting Icons Ltd, did not oppose theŠEnforcement Order made under the Enterprise Act at Chester County Court before his Honour Judge David Hale.

Cheshire’s Trading Standards sought the order against the former principals ofŠSporting IconsŠLtd beforeŠMr Walker’s trial but proceedings were stayed pending the outcome of the criminal case.

Walker, 45 was found guilty in April of 51 charges of selling fake sporting memorabilia – much of it “signed” by sporting superstars –Šand jailed for 30 months.

Faisal Madani, 43, described in court as “the wholesaler”, was sentenced to nine months for supplying many of the forgeries and Sporting Icons Ltd was fined £24,500.

The trial at Chester Crown Court lasted six weeks and attracted international publicity with soccer’s Michel Owen, Steven Gerrard andŠIan Rush among the witnesses.ŠŠ

Walker's wife was not charged with any criminal offence but as former company secretary of Sporting Icons Limited she was included within the terms of the Enforcement Order, together with the company itself.

All three are also prohibited from engaging in the sale or distribution of any goods “bearing the registered trade marks of sporting teams or clubs, national sporting associations or individual sporting personalities”.

The order also prevents the couple and Sporting Icons Ltd from selling or distributing any goods bearing the registered trade mark of “film companies, actors, music companies, musical groups or individual musical performers”.

And the same applies to the sale or distribution of branded fragrances.

The order is final and applies permanently.