A Belgian man admitted ten charges of selling and possessing counterfeit goods when he appeared at Bedford Magistrates Court last week.

Peter Van Goethem, from Bonheiden, was prosecuted by Bedfordshire County Council, found guilty under the Trade Mark Act 1994 and ordered to pay £1,550.

The court heard that Van Goethem had travelled to Bedfordshire to sell fake goods including T-shirt and hats at the Santa Pod Raceway in September 2007.

Trading standards officers swooped following a complaint from a California-based company whose staff noticed Van Goethem selling copies of their own goods.

A representative from the American company travelled to the UK, Van Goethem was identified and his merchandise seized.

Officers confiscated 86 bags of goods and around 1,100 items.
After hearing that Van Goethem has given up his business, and is now employed as a trainee supermarket manager, magistrates imposed a £550 fine and ordered him to pay £1,000 costs.

The court also learned that Van Goethem had voluntarily surrendered items to trading standards before the hearing.

Coun Bob King, cabinet member for community services at County Hall, said "This case is another example of the excellent work undertaken by Bedfordshire's trading standards service to protect our residents from being ripped off by traders who deal in counterfeit goods.

"I would also remind residents that counterfeit goods are not the bargain they may at first seem to be. They are often of inferior quality and in some cases, can be dangerous."