Steven Gerrard autograph fakers face jail

Apr 2 2008

Two businessmen accused of ripping off their customers by forging and selling sports stars’ signatures were today found guilty at Chester Crown Court.

Faisal Madani, 43, and Graeme Walker, 45, were convicted after a five-week trial which heard from star prosecution witnesses Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard and Ian Rush as well as evidence from Jonny Wilkinson.

Madani, of Bramhall, Cheshire, and Walker, of Connah’s Quay, Flintshire, already have convictions for dishonesty and trademark offences and now face potential jail terms.

Walker was found guilty on 51 of the 53 charges against him, including dishonestly trading by selling faked signatures of Sir Alex Ferguson, Cristiano Ronaldo, Roy Keane, Gerrard, Wilkinson and others.

He was cleared of selling a fraudulent Worthington Cup Final LFC match shirt purporting to be the original match shirt worn by Michael Owen.

He was also cleared of selling a photograph with a fake signature of Owen.

Madani was convicted of 18 of the 20 charges against him including supplying many of the items to Walker.

He was cleared of selling a photograph with a fake signature of Gerrard.

Both defendants looked to the floor as the guilty verdicts were returned.

A reporting restriction around the collapse of the first trial in this case was lifted today.

Andrew Thomas QC, prosecuting, informed the jury that during the first trial Madani was arrested at the court by City of London Police.

He said: “Mr Madani was arrested in relation to the alleged use of fraudulently obtained credit cards.
“No charges have been brought as the investigation is still ongoing.”

Madani was remanded in custody until sentencing takes place at 2pm tomorrow.

Afterwards, Walker made no comment as he left the court, although his wife hurled abuse at Madani’s wife.
In the lobby of the court, a tearful Mrs Walker shouted towards Mrs Madani: ``I hope you're happy, Sharon. You took all that money off us.''

Walker’s shop, Sporting Icons Limited, in Chester city centre, which continued trading until two weeks ago, has now been boarded up.
Cheshire Trading Standards hope to obtain an injunction against the business.

Cheshire County Council’s director of community services, John Weeks, said: “This has been a long and complex investigation - but today’s court result will be welcomed by sports fans everywhere.

“Ruthless exploitation of the devotion that fans show their clubs and sporting heroes was exposed on a scale which shocked us and, indeed, helped fund a high street business.

“Liverpool, Manchester United and their players, together with Jonny Wilkinson and Michael Owen, shared our concerns and helped uncover a situation which highlights the need for considerable caution on the part of anyone buying this type of memorabilia.”

Cheshire Trading Standards is urging Sporting Icons customers who may have concerns about their purchases to call the Consumer Direct advice line on 0845 404 0506.

The jury returned majority 10-2 guilty verdicts on Madani for supplying an Ian Rush photograph with a fake autograph of the former Anfield star.

Walker was convicted by a majority of 10-2 of selling three forged signatures of Manchester United’s Ruud van Nistlerooy.