Sports stars and AFTAL members testify against dealers accused of selling fake signed memorabilia.
AFTAL members Andy Woodward of Mad About Sport, and Garry King of Autografica, will be sharing the witness stand with sports legends Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard and Johnny Wilkinson over the next 6 weeks. They have all been called to give evidence at Chester Crown Court against the owners of Sporting Icons, Faisal Madani and Graeme Walker, the men behind allegations of a major counterfeiting operation in the multi-million pound sports memorabilia business
The case has taken Trading standards almost 2 years to get to court after they raided the premises of Sporting Icons in Chester in June 2006. They recovered 5 van loads of signed clothing and autographed photo’s from the Watergate Row premises. Despite this setback, Sporting Icons have continued to trade both from their Chester store and the internet.
AFTAL recommend that the public only buy signed items from well established dealers who have both the knowledge and experience to deal with signed memorabilia. They should offer a life time authenticity guarantee, and be a member of a recognised trade association, membership of which should always be checked.
AFTAL is the only trade association for autograph dealers in the UK, and actively works with the Police and Trading Standards office. AFTAL has a strict code of practice to ensure that all members only deal in authentic signed items, and all members face a thorough check of their knowledge, background and stock, before being accepted.
AFTAL recommend that anyone who has purchased anything from either Sporting Icons, or its owners Faisal Medani and Graeme Walker, get a second opinion from a known expert.
If any member of the public requires a second opinion on any items they may have purchased, they may contact any AFTAL member for advice. In some cases a charge may be made for this service.
AFTAL have a guide to help the general public make a decision on buying signed memorabilia, and this can be found here.
Below are links to just some of the articles related to this case, and AFTAL are pleased to see that both Walker and Medani are at last getting the publicity they deserve!
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2008/02/07/men-in-court-over-faked-autographs-55578-20448768/http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_headline=steven-gerrard-and-jamie-carragher-we-have-never-signed-this-sporting-icons-image&method=full&objectid=20451462&siteid=50061-name_page.htmlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7232740.stmhttp://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-23436206-details/Fans%20'spent%20thousands%20on%20fake%20autographs'%20of%20Becks,%20Gerrard,%20Wilkinson%20and%20Owen/article.dohttp://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1035628_top_prices_for_worthless_goodshttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/07/nfraud107.xmlhttp://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid=17212565&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=stars-lined-up-for--fake-autographs--case-name_page.htmlhttp://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article3254186.ecehttp://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2008/02/06/jamie-carragher-and-steven-gerrard-set-to-appear-in-court-64375-20441949/http://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/latest-north-west-news/Sports-stars-get-callup-for.3745107.jphttp://www.chestereveningleader.co.uk/latest-north-west-news/Sport-stars-may-testify-in.3744602.jphttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7228432.stmhttp://stricklerautographs.blogspot.com/2008/01/british-sports-stars-may-testify-on.htmlhttp://www.driffieldtoday.co.uk/latest-north-west-news/Sport-stars-may-testify-in.3744602.jphttp://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/breaking-news/2008/02/05/wilkinson-and-owen-called-to-autograph-trial-61634-20437728/http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/02/06/reds-stars-may-give-evidence-in-court-case-100252-20440955/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/06/nfraud106.xmlhttp://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/United-and-Liverpool-stars-victims.3747279.jphttp://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1035274_stars_at_sport_scam_trialhttp://www.lions-tour.com/news/viewarticle.asp?id=10223UPDATEThe largest autograph fraud case of its kind finally came to an end today (2nd April 2008) after the jury announced a guilty verdict against both Faisal Medani and Graeme Walker at Chester Crown Court.
AFTAL members Andy Woodward of Mad About Sports, and Garry King of Autografica, both gave evidence for the prosecution, which helped lead to the guilty verdict. Both Medani and Walker will be sentenced later.
The court heard how Walker and Medani systematically forged signatures on shirts, photos and other items, which were then sold via their shop, website, eBay, and TV auction channels.
The shop in Chester is now boarded up, and it looks as though both Walker and Medani may well be given prison sentences.
Both Medani and Walker have previous convictions for fraud, and during the first week of the trial, Medani was again arrested for suspected credit card fraud. That investigation is ongoing.
AFTAL recommends that anyone who has purchased any item, which they suspect may have come from either Walker or Medani, should get in touch with an AFTAL member for a second opinion.
Here is just one of the many news articles on the web about this scam.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1043676_neville_helps_net_fakers
