A Belgian man pleaded guilty to ten charges of selling and being in possession of counterfeit goods, including t-shirts and hats, when he appeared at Bedford Magistrates Court last week.

Peter Van Goethem of Bonheiden, Belgium, appeared in court on Thursday, May 8. In a case brought by Bedfordshire County Council Trading Standard Service, he was found guilty under the Trade Mark Act 1994 and ordered to pay a total of £1,550.

The court heard that Mr Van Goethem had travelled to Bedfordshire from Belgium to sell the counterfeit goods at the Santa Pod Raceway in September 2007.

Following a complaint from a California-based company who noticed Mr Van Goethem was selling copies of their own goods, trading standard officers investigated. A representative from the American company travelled to the UK to assist officers, and as a result Mr Van Goethem was identified and his merchandise seized.

In total officers seized 86 bags of goods and around 1,100 items.

After hearing that Mr Van Goethem had given up his business and was now employed as a trainee supermarket manager, Magistrates imposed a £550 fine and ordered him to pay £1,000 towards the costs of the County Council's trading standards service.

The court was also told that prior to the hearing Mr. Van Goethem had voluntarily surrendered items to trading standards.

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."