Leeds city-centre trader still on the run over £250,000 counterfeit business
Elusive owner has been on the run for almost 20 years.
A business owner who was caught with counterfeit goods worth a quarter-of-a-million pounds in Leeds city centre has been on the run for almost two decades.
Ozturk Yildirim was in charge of company named Daligold Ltd, trading as Collezioni, when he was raided in August of 2005.
The premises were on The Headrow, where a “variety of counterfeit items” were found, Leeds Crown Court was told.
Yildirim was charged with 20 offence linked to 421 items worth approximately £250,000.
The 57-year-old was due to appear in court in March 2007, but failed to show.
A warrant was put out for his arrest. It is thought he is now residing somewhere in Germany.
His case was brought back before the courts recently. Yildirim was obviously not present, and no barrister was present to represent him.
The judge, the Recorder of Leeds, Guy Kearl KC, said Yildirim had no previous convictions.
He gave him an eight-month sentence, suspended for two years.