A Del Boy-style rogue trader has been ordered to pay back more than #100,000 of his ill-gotten gains or face jail after being caught selling fake ‘as-seen-on-TV’ goods.
Hassan Salimi was convicted of a 20 trademark offences after he was caught flogging counterfeit cosmetics, tooth whitening products and dodgy home shopping products.
He was told to pay a £750 fine for each of his trademark offences, £5,000 in court costs and a £80,000 confiscation order after being found guilty earlier this month.
The market trader, who also flogged dodgy designer gear, was told at Croydon Crown Court he has six months to stump up the cash or face 18 months in prison.
Salimi, of Carshalton, south west London, was caught when trading standards officers from Sutton Council began investigating him for postal fraud in 2012.
They discovered he was sending packages to customers using a pre-paid business reference stamp belonging to Ann Summers.
Sutton Council said: “We will use everything in our powers to ensure crime does not pay, including the courts for asset recovery.
“Residents need to know that they will be protected from rogue traders who flout the law by selling sub-standard goods.
“It is also unfair on legitimate business owners who comply with the law, provide excellent service and respect their customers.”
