Accused man 'bought Rush holiday'

Graeme Walker and Faisal Madani deny the charges

Former Liverpool player Ian Rush was treated to a holiday in Dubai by a man accused of selling forged signatures of sports stars, a court heard.

Faisal Madani organised the trip for Rush and his wife as part of a hotel "promotion", Chester Crown Court heard.

Graeme Walker, 45, of Connah's Quay, Flintshire, and Madani, 43, of Bramhall, Stockport, deny 74 charges under the Trade Descriptions Act.

Mr Rush said he signed items in front of Mr Madani, but not hundreds of tops.

As well as the trip to Dubai, Mr Rush, 46, said he had been treated to two trips to a casino, and a stay in a Hilton hotel for a TV appearance.

Ian Rush had two successful spells at Liverpool

Mr Rush said he had signed shirts and photographs in the presence of Mr Madani during two visits to appear on the television programme, which auctioned signed sporting memorabilia.

But he said he had not signed hundreds of tops in the presence of Mr Madani.

Mr Rush also said his genuine signature was not on a framed 1977 Liverpool European Cup winners' shirt and a photograph of him with Michael Owen taken between 2003 and 2004 during his time as a coach at Liverpool.

The items were on sale at Sporting Icons in Chester, which was owned by Mr Walker and Mr Madani.

The pair are accused of selling and offering sporting memorabilia, including shirts and photographs, with faked autographs of stars.

Mr Rush said his signature on a picture of him was not genuine

Peter Davies, defending Mr Madani, said to Mr Rush: "Can I suggest to you that you had a relationship with Mr Madani over 12 to 18 months where you were paid money for the provision of your signature on a number of occasions. Is that right?"

Mr Rush replied: "Yes."

Mr Rush said he was treated to the trip to Dubai to promote the hotel, but admitted he did not do any promotion work during his holiday.

The court was shown a letter, apparently signed by Rush, endorsing the Sporting Icons Ltd store as "one of the UK's leading memorabilia dealers" of "authentic" sporting memorabilia.

Asked if it was his genuine signature, Mr Rush answered: "In my opinion no."

Mr Rush said that he could not remember ever signing a letter on behalf of the company.

England calendars

The court later heard statements from England Rugby player Jonny Wilkinson about merchandise seized from the Sporting Icons Ltd store.

In one, read to the court by Andrew Thomas QC, prosecuting, Mr Wilkinson said he would never sign a shirt in the way that it was presented.

The court was told that Mr Wilkinson is a director of a company which handles his signed merchandise.

Mr Wilkinson also said, in a statement dated 1 November 2005, that items including two England calendars and 16 signed canvas prints had his "forged signature".

Mr Madani faces 20 charges under the Trade Descriptions Act and the Trade Marks Act and Mr Walker faces 53 similar offences, which also include those under the Theft Act and fraudulent trading under the Companies Act.

The trial has been adjourned until Thursday.