A Merthyr Tydfil woman has been jailed after admitting selling counterfeit designer goods through social media platforms including Facebook and Telegram.
Gemma Chinnery, 35, from Cefn Coed, Merthyr Tydfil, was sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on 7 May 2026 after previously pleading guilty to 21 offences under the Trademarks Act.
Chinnery received a three-year immediate custodial sentence for each offence, with all sentences to run concurrently.
The prosecution followed an investigation by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Trading Standards, which identified a Facebook page called “Gemma G’s Fashion Factory” advertising counterfeit products for sale.
Investigators established that Chinnery was operating the page and supplying clothing, footwear and electrical items falsely branded as major names including Apple, Nike, Tiffany & Co., Chanel and Louis Vuitton.
Officers also uncovered a linked Telegram group named “G’s Fashion”, which had reportedly been active since July 2022. The group contained more than 37,000 photographs and 650 videos, indicating what investigators described as significant trading activity.
Trading Standards officers later executed a warrant at Chinnery’s home address, where they seized 213 counterfeit items covering 28 designer brands, including Apple, Adidas, Nike, Balenciaga, UGG and Calvin Klein.
Financial investigations revealed that between January 2022 and September 2023, Chinnery received more than £116,000 through bank accounts connected to the sale of counterfeit goods.
Authorities estimated the equivalent retail value of the genuine products at more than £1.9 million.
Sarah King, Director of Governance and Resources at Merthyr Tydfil CBC, said: “We want to remind consumers that counterfeit goods are not subject to proper safety checks and may be unsafe. We will continue to act against those selling illegal products and work to protect our communities. This sentence should act as a warning to those involved in these types of illegal activity.”
Cllr David Jones, Cabinet Member for Trading Standards, said: “This case highlights the work undertaken by the Authority in protecting legitimate businesses. Counterfeit goods have a damaging impact on our local economy and unfairly disadvantage businesses that do things the right way. The work of our Trading Standards team plays a vital role in protecting residents and keeping things fair, and we would encourage anyone who comes across suspected counterfeit goods to report it.”
Anyone wishing to report the sale of counterfeit goods can contact Trading Standards by emailing [email protected], calling 01685 72500, or anonymously through Crimestoppers or by calling 0800 555 111.
