A rogue trader who made £120,000 profits from selling fake perfumes, has been jailed for 16 months for conspiracy to falsely use trademarks.

Patrick Morris, 65, operated his online business, a-bit-ofmagic.co.uk, from his Wellington Parade home in Walmer - causing losses of about £360,000 for big name businesses.

Alongside him was godson James Cumming, 32, who lived with him, and who acted as an online manager in the counterfeit ploy.

Cumming was jailed for six months when they appeared together at Canterbury Crown Court yesterday.

Morris had around 5,000 customers using his website which was set up in 2011. But instead of flogging legitimate makes, he sourced products bearing the GHD, Ugg brands, as well as scores of shifty fragrances.

The alarm was raised when Kent County Council Trading Standards received numerous complaints that the business was selling fake products in 2012.

“Those who deal in counterfeit goods can expect to be prosecuted and can face prison sentences as a result" - Mark Rolfe Kent Trading Standards

An undercover investigation led to more than 500 goods being seized from the pair's home, including a laptop and an iPhone.

Chanel, Dior, Dolce and Gabanna, Paco Rabanne were included in the find, believed to be worth about £11,533 - £12,566 based on his selling price obtained from business records.

Trading Standards manager Mark Rolfe said: “Kent County Council’s Trading Standards has put paid to these criminal entrepreneurs who were defrauding consumers and legitimate businesses.

“Those who deal in counterfeit goods can expect to be prosecuted and can face prison sentences as a result.

“All the goods seized were confirmed by the trademark holders as being counterfeit. Because the goods were fake, there were safety concerns over the electrical goods and fragrances which are required to comply with European safety legislation.

“There is the safety risk to consumers of using products which are not genuine and therefore the quality of them and their safety is not known.

“The scale of offending was such that the gross profit from the business amounted to over £120,000, with in excess of 5,000 consumers buying from the website.”