A former Bedford market trader prosecuted by Bedfordshire County Council Trading Standards in 2006, is expected to be released from prison next week after paying a confiscation order for £585,422.

The release of Mr Jhalman Singh follows Luton Crown Court sentencing him to prison for five years for failing to comply with a confiscation order when ordered to do so.

Coun Bob King, Bedfordshire County Council Cabinet member for Community Services, said "This case sends a very clear message to anyone making money by selling counterfeit goods.

"The confiscation powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act will be used to make you pay the money back. Other offenders are already facing confiscation hearings as a result of benefiting financially from this type of illegal trading. The bottom line is it doesn't pay."

In 2006 Mr Singh was prosecuted under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and Trade Descriptions Act 1968, for selling items of counterfeit clothing on Bedford Market. He was sentenced to 100 hours of community service.

Mr Singh was also ordered to appear before Luton Crown Court in May 2006 when a confiscation hearing was held under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The court found that the financial gain he had made from his offence was a staggering £585,422 and issued a confiscation order for the sum. He was warned that if he did not pay the sum in full, he would serve a default sentence of five years' imprisonment.

The financial investigation and the confiscation hearing was carried out by the Assets Recovery Agency (now Serious and Organised Crime Agency), working closely with the county council's Trading Standards Service.

As a result of an innovative collaboration with the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), Bedfordshire County Council's Trading Standards Service now has its own Financial Investigations Unit to undertake investigations under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

This Financial Investigations Unit will enable the Council's Trading Standards Service to use the Proceeds of Crime Act to tackle a wider of range of criminal trading such as car 'clocking'.

The specialist unit is also supporting other local authorities across England and Wales to tackle counterfeiting of films.