Exmouth woman who sold fake cosmetics on eBay spared jail
A woman has been spared prison after admitting selling thousands of pounds worth of fake cosmetics on eBay.
Tests on a tube of mascara being sold by Deborah Hamber from her home contained twice the permitted level of lead, Exeter Crown Court heard.
Hamber, 41, from Exmouth in Devon, admitted seven trading offences.
She was given a four month sentence, suspended for a year, and ordered to do 150 hours of community service.
High Court bailiff Hamber had 900 fake cosmetics items at her home when it was raided by trading standards officers, the court heard.
Hamber had wanted to boost her income and started selling fake MAC, Bare Essentials, Urban Decay and Lancome cosmetics from China.
The goods were sold for half the usual price and she made £24,720 between July 2012 and February 2013 from the trading.
Rosie Rowe, of Devon and Somerset Trading Standards Service, said: "Clearly there are safety issues with stuff like mascara and we aim to create a level playing field.
"If you have someone importing these from China you don't have that."
The court also ordered forfeiture and destruction of the seized goods and a confiscation investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council's Cabinet member with responsibility for the trading standards service, said: "This sort of activity hurts local retailers of legitimate goods as well as the brand holders.
"It can also mean substandard and shoddy goods are imported - and in the case of cosmetics, dangerous ones with high levels of toxins."