H&F’s Trading Standards team has continued its clampdown on illegal football scarf sellers ripping off fans on matchdays in H&F.
Samuel Michael Wilson, 42, of Leigh-on-Sea was ordered to pay £3,690 in fines and costs at Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday 4 October after pleading guilty by post of illegal street trading.
Mr Wilson had been charged after being seen selling scarves, without a street trading licence, on two separate occasions last year outside Stamford Bridge.
The first was on 5 February 2022 at Chelsea’s FA Cup tie with Plymouth Argyle when 27 scarves were seized, and again on 5 October 2022 for the Blues’ Premier League clash with Manchester United.
Illegal scarf sellers have been seen by officers charging up to almost £30 for a scarf.
The court case was delayed as Mr Wilson had provided officers with a false address.
H&F officers investigated further and uncovered that Mr Wilson was registered to vote and had an active bank account in his name at his parents’ address. This meant court papers could be served on Mr Wilson, allowing the court case to finally be heard.
Taking a hard stance
The H&F Trading Standards team has prosecuted 11 illegal traders in the last three years. They have been ordered to pay more than £44,000 in fines, costs and victim surcharges.
Mr Wilson was previously convicted for similar offences outside Chelsea’s ground in 2021 and required to pay a total of £3,061 in fines and costs.
“We continue to work hard to stop local residents and visitors from being ripped off outside our local football stadiums by illegal street traders,” said Cllr Rebecca Harvey, H&F Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Community Safety.
“This work is also crucial for licenced football merchandise stall holders. We will continue our clampdown on this type of matchday crime in H&F to ensure local residents, families and visitors can enjoy games and be confident they are purchasing reputable merchandise.”
Find out more about the work of H&F Trading Standards.
