A BUSINESSMAN who made thousands of pounds from selling fake designer goods over a three-year period has avoided a jail term

Guarcharan Singh peddled clothing and handbags at shops in Ashford and Chatham and markets in Folkestone, claiming they were genuine brands such as Gucci, Chanel and Dior.

There was a degree of arrogance, said a judge, when on one occasion trading standards officers went to his store to return legitimate items they had seized and discovered more fakes on sale.

Singh was given nine months imprisonment, suspended for two years, after admitting 43 offences of unauthorised use of a trademark.

The 39-year-old, of Watson Avenue, Chatham, was also ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work. There will now be an investigation into his assets.

His wife Belinda Kaur denied similar charges and the case against her was dropped.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that a large quantity of counterfeit goods was seized from the business, called Chockers, in Second Avenue, Chatham.

James Dennison, prosecuting, said the charges, involving just under £5,600, were specimen counts, otherwise there would be thousands.

As an example, he said, Singh had 653 pairs of fake Nike trainers he was selling for £30. There were also fake Louis Vuitton and Gucci handbags selling for between £30 and £290.

Mr Dennison said an investigation began in February 2004 into Chockers in Middle Row, Ashford, after a customer complained about purchases. More complaints followed.

Roy Headlan, defending, said: “He was trapped in this desire to obtain financial security. He was lost in this madness for some time.”

Judge Philip Statman said Singh, who had about nine employees, had between 2003 and 2006 used his stores as a conduit to sell false designer goods.

He added: “Activities of this kind have a damaging impact on the public. Jobs are affected by what you are doing. What you have done is utterly dishonest.”

The judge told the father-of-five: “I accept you are driven in your desire to succeed in business, but greed and being dishonest does not excuse your conduct,” he said.

He warned Singh that if he committed further offences he could be sent to prison “for a very long time.”