Sutton trader with “callous disregard” for children gets prison sentence over counterfeit Batman and Robin suits

Anna Karetnikova, who operated as an Ebay and Amazon business seller from Osborne Place, Sutton, was convicted following a prosecution by Sutton Council Trading Standards.

One fancy dress costume contained a sharp piece of wire protruding through the fabric that risked severe eye injury. The plastic packaging on many costumes was unsafe and presented a risk of asphyxiation.  

 

Karetnikova traded for three years amassing thousands of pounds in profit by buying fake goods from China.

Her Honour Judge D Charles from Croydon Crown Court said on 8 March:  “You are an educated woman. To my mind you should have appreciated the dangers of what you were doing. You have a callous disregard for the children who would end up wearing the costumes.  

“Any right minded member of the public would find it shocking that a mother of young children could be selling costumes to other parents that could seriously injure their children.”

 

Karetnikova sold outfits she bought from China. The court heard she traded under the name OSBORNESHOP2015.

A search of Karetnikova’s home at Osborne Close, Sutton by Trading Standards in June 2017 revealed an attic full of counterfeit stock, including 1,200 children’s costumes and more than 100 electrical chargers.

Karetnikova pleaded guilty to being in possession of fancy dress costumes in April and June of 2017. These offences were contrary to Toy Safety Regulations 2011.

 

 

 

Also to having in possession a Samsung adapter which was prohibited by Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016.

In jailing Karetnikova for six months, Judge D Charles said the case “undoubtedly crosses the custody threshold”.

She suspended the prison sentence for 18 months after giving Karetnikova credit for her guilty plea, previous  good character and the low risk of reconviction.

Karetnikova was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work for the benefit of the community.

The court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of all the items seized by Trading Standards.

 

The case followed a complaint to Trading Standards by Rubie’s Masquerade Co. UK Ltd.

A spokesman for Sutton Trading Standards said: “This shocking case demonstrates how seriously the courts take the sale of unsafe and counterfeit goods, especially when – as there so often is – there is a risk to the public.

“In this case, there was a risk to children.

“This prosecution has resulted in the perpetrator being handed a suspended prison sentence. That will inevitably have life changing consequences for the individual.

“We hope this serves as a lesson to anyone either engaged in dealing in counterfeit trade or considering it.”