Byline: By CATRIN PASCOE Western Mail

A jeweller conned customers into believing they were buying expensive Rolex watches, a court heard yesterday. But the jewel-studded watches were allegedly cheap fakes which didn't tell the time properly. Gary Riggs, 43, is accused of selling 'Rolex' watches Christian Dior Fake for pounds 26,000 at his shop Band of Gold in Penarth, near Cardiff. The court heard one customer dubbed his shop 'Bandit of Gold' after she was allegedly duped by Riggs. He is also accused Bvlgari Replica of swapping a pensioner's pounds 40,000 diamond ring for a 'cheap piece of costume jewellery'.

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Prosecutor Meiron Davies said, 'This was deliberate cold-blooded dishonesty.

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'Davies sold one customer a diamond encrusted Oyster Rolex for pounds 18,000. Riggs would not provide a certificate of authenticity and the watch was certainly not genuine.'

Cardiff Crown Court heard customers gave Riggs jewellery to be melted down and remade. But the prosecution claims he sold the jewellery and returned 'cheap bangles' to the original owner.

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Riggs is also accused of duping pensioner Muriel Whitehouse, 86, into swapping a pounds 40,000 diamond ring for two items of pounds 100 'costume jewellery'. Riggs is also accused of having a man followed and his car windows smashed when he threatened to call the police.

Divorced Riggs, of Sully, Cardiff, denies 14 charges of theft, deception and witness intimidation. The trial continues.