Three men caught with counterfeit clothing and shoes at a Sunday market in Leysdown, thought to be costing the industry £84,400, have been sentenced.

Blain Boon, Jagdish Naran, and Ricky Hirani all pleaded guilty to selling and being in possession of counterfeit clothes.

Boon and Naran, from Luton and Leicester, were sentenced to six months, suspended for 18 months. They were ordered to do 140 hours of unpaid work.

Hirani, from Harrow, was sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid work, when all three appeared at Maidstone Crown Court.

Kent Trading Standards carried out an undercover inspection in April 2017, when an officer bought fake Nike trainers for £25. They also saw branded belts, handbags and sunglasses.

They visited the stall again two months later when officers gathered more evidence.

A total of 1,276 items were seized. It is estimated the value of the clothing, if it was legitimate, would have been £84,800.

'These suspects openly peddled their illegal products' - Clive Phillips

Kent Trading Standards operations manager Clive Phillips said: “These suspects openly peddled their illegal products. Although their customers could be forgiven for getting what they felt was a good deal, these products were proved to be inferior.

“The proceeds of counterfeit goods funds organised criminal gangs and we would ask members of the public to avoid dealing with these types of businesses.

“We will continue to work in stamping out this illegal activity.”