A YOUNG widow in £7,000 worth of debt decided to sell fake designer clothes, handbags, shoes and tracksuits in a bid to raise cash for Christmas presents.

Susan Christine Hill, 39, was approached by a friend in 2016 who arranged parties to sell counterfeit Ugg, Mulberry, Stella McCartney, Ted Baker and Hugo Boss products.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday that the mother-of-two agreed to host the events and was tasked with taking the goods to sell in County Durham and return any unsold stock to her associate.

Hill, of Earls Green, in East Rainton, Hetton-le-Hole, was approached by Trading Standards officers on December 1, 2016, who witnessed her unloading a Ford Transit van in Easington Colliery.

Around 100 counterfeit items were found inside the van, including 47 handbags, 13 purses, 30 pairs of shoes, two tracksuits, pairs of gloves and hats, with experts later confirming the goods all bore fake trademarks.

Robin Ford, mitigating, told the court that his client has worked hard to clear her debts and has launched her own business running a café in Hetton-le-Hole.

Mr Ford said: “She knew what she was doing and why she was doing it.

“She has two children and about 10 years ago, her fiancé died in a motorbike crash.

“That had a severe impact on her and she’s had to bring up two children on her own.”

He added: “Until 2014, she had the support of her family – her dad owns two fabulously wealthy businesses, but that relationship does not exist anymore.

“The eldest child works for her grandfather, so they still have that relationship, however when Miss Hall is in hard times and has no money, she really is in hard times and has no money – there’s no bail out.

“But I’m over the moon to tell you she’s come from nothing to be something and her business is going great guns.”

Hill pleaded guilty to five charges of selling the counterfeit goods and was fined £417.

She must also pay £895 in court costs.