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Autograph fraudsters found guilty | Autograph fraudsters found guilty |
(20 minutes later) | |
Two business partners have been found guilty of cheating their customers by forging and selling the signatures of sports stars. | |
Faisal Madani, 43, from Cheshire, and Graeme Walker, 45, of Flintshire, had denied the charges under the Trades Descriptions Act. | Faisal Madani, 43, from Cheshire, and Graeme Walker, 45, of Flintshire, had denied the charges under the Trades Descriptions Act. |
Chester Crown Court heard the pair faked autographs of stars including Pele, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard. | |
The memorabilia was then sold at the Sporting Icons shop in Chester. | The memorabilia was then sold at the Sporting Icons shop in Chester. |
Madani, of Grange Road in Bramhall, Cheshire, and Walker, of Connah's Quay, Flintshire, already have convictions for dishonesty and trademark offences and now face potential jail terms. | Madani, of Grange Road in Bramhall, Cheshire, and Walker, of Connah's Quay, Flintshire, already have convictions for dishonesty and trademark offences and now face potential jail terms. |
Mr Walker's barrister told the jury at Chester Crown Court that Mr Madani was guilty of an "outrageous fraud". | Mr Walker's barrister told the jury at Chester Crown Court that Mr Madani was guilty of an "outrageous fraud". |
But Mr Madani's barrister insisted he had not supplied the bogus signatures. | But Mr Madani's barrister insisted he had not supplied the bogus signatures. |
Mr Walker's barrister, Paul Lawton, told the court that since 1996, during a meeting with a Coutts bank manager, Mr Madani had been passing himself off as the brother of ex-Manchester United director Armer Mouffac Al Midani. | Mr Walker's barrister, Paul Lawton, told the court that since 1996, during a meeting with a Coutts bank manager, Mr Madani had been passing himself off as the brother of ex-Manchester United director Armer Mouffac Al Midani. |
He said Mr Madani had "duped" his client by providing false merchandise in the form of shirts, photographs and other items. | He said Mr Madani had "duped" his client by providing false merchandise in the form of shirts, photographs and other items. |