Sport stars named as witnesses in autograph trial

Updated 08.48 Thu Feb 07 2008

Keywords: crime, autographs, sporting memorabilia, sport, law and order, jonny wilkinson, jamie carragher, steven gerrard, courts

Sport stars Jonny Wilkinson, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher could be asked to give evidence in the trial of two men accused of selling fake autographs.

All three have been named as prosecution witnesses in the trial of Sporting Icons owner Graeme Walker, 45, and former business partner, Faisal Madani, 42, at Chester Crown Court.

Two men are accused of selling and offering a variety of sporting memorabilia items with faked autographs of stars

Walker and Madani are accused of selling and offering a variety of sporting memorabilia items, including shirts and photographs, with faked autographs of stars.

Madani faces 20 charges under the Trade Descriptions Act and Walker faces 54 similar charges, which also include offences under the Theft Act and fraudulent trading under the Companies Act.

Both Walker, of Connah's Quay, Deeside, and Madani, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, deny the charges.

A jury of five women and seven men has been sworn in and prosecution witnesses are expected to be called on Friday.