Prison for ‘Fake Club mastermind’ - Adrian Hinson sold counterfeit 'branded tat' and assumed multiple identities

The claim came from the defence team of a “man of multiple identities” jailed following the discovery of a mountain of fake bags, clothes and watches stored in a nightclub in Hartland Road, Camden Town.

 

Bizarrely, given the nature of the case, the bar was called the Fake Club, with its name emblazoned across the front of the venue in big red letters.
 

Adrian Hindson, from Maida Vale, was sent to prison for two years after pleading guilty to 25 counts of trademarks offences and money laundering. 
 

Around 15,000 bags, clothes and watches – stamped with top brand symbols like Gucci, Rolex, Louis Vuitton and Prada – were found in his club in 2008.
 

His barrister, Craig Rush QC, argued that it was not the “public duty of the court” to send a man to prison for selling goods that “should properly be described as tat”.
 

He said: “There are people that buy Louis Vuitton and there are people that buy Louis Vuitton for £50 from Camden. People knew they were buying fakes. There are dual markets. Nobody in this case was duped.”
 

The court heard Mr Hindson’s haul – believed to be primed for sale in stalls in the Stables and Buck Street markets – was valued at £3million, but worth just £500,000.
 

Sentencing on Friday, Judge John Hillen said: “It is true that no member of the public has said they were deceived in believing they were the genuine article. 
 

“Nonetheless an immediate custodial sentence should be imposed.”
 

Wearing a black T-shirt – with the famous Nike-style swoosh symbol on the front – gold chain and deep suntan, Hindson advised the court through his barrister he would not appeal for the return of any goods – even if they were found to be real.

The court heard about the difficulty of “dip testing” more than 100 different labels.
 

But Hindson, again through his barrister, did appeal for the return of computers seized during raids on his home, claiming they contained his 14-year-old daughter’s “homework”. 
 

A large bag of “Rolex watches” was on display in the court and Judge Hillen said if they were found to be real and returned, he would be able to purchase many new computers in the future.
 

The court heard how Hindson – later described by Camden Council as a “mastermind” – forged links with the Far East that broke down after his partner showed signs of “erratic behaviour” and required “psychiatric intervention”.
 

It was told that a custodial sentence would have a “profound effect” on his two children and that social care arrangements were in place.
 

Judge Hillen told Hindson: “You are not a man of good character, but I disregard that. For a period of time you were involved in a criminal enterprise, indeed, a conspiracy, and very serious criminal activity that affects the reputation of companies trading throughout the world. 
 

“It was a professional enterprise, meticulously organised, with skills that all ought to have been properly used in a legitimate way.

You chose to use them for criminal purposes.”
 

A Town Hall spokeswoman said the conviction was a culmination of a three year investigation by Camden’s trading standards.
 

After the sentencing, Councillor Sue Vincent said: “Camden Council will protect unwary shoppers from purchasing poor quality goods.

This is one of the biggest cases that our trading standards team have ever seen and is an important victory for them.”