A MAN who was found with a stash of fake branded goods in his possession has been ordered to pay over £1,800.

Durham County Council’s trading standards team investigated Kamran Adil’s business in Blackhall, near Peterlee, in November last year.

After undergoing a search of the shop, known as The Winestore, items of counterfeit clothing and a fake set of GHD hair straighteners were found by officers in the storeroom at the back of the premises.

The items included clothing bearing brands such as Ellesse, Lacoste and Nike.

The 47-year-old, of Halterburn Close, Gosforth, pleaded guilty to four charges of possession of counterfeit goods when he appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. The defendant claimed he wore the items when he decorated.

He was fined £1,200 and ordered to pay £602.99 in costs and a victim surcharge of £120.

Joanne Waller, the council’s head of environment, health and consumer protection, said: “Selling, offering and possessing for sale counterfeit goods are serious offences which carry a potential jail term of up to ten years and unlimited fines.

“The sale of fake goods not only deceives customers and harm legitimate retailers, they can also pose a serious safety risk, particularly with fake electrical items such as hair styling products.”