North East man admits selling fake poppy merchandise

A Kibblesworth man's admitted to selling poppy merchandise - without ANY connection to the Royal British Legion.

64 year old Barry Downs was caught selling fake poppy brooches at a market stand in Stanley - back in November 2017

He was caught by Durham County Council's Trading Standards team last year with more than 400 brooches.

When asked, he admitted he was not linked to the Royal British Legion.

Checks carried out on the items revealed they infringed six trademarks belonging to the British Legion.

Mr Downs then admitted in an interview he was selling the broaches for profit

He's been sentenced to 80 hours of unpaid work.

The Royal British Legion says "unscrupulous traders" deprive it of funds.