A trader has been fined more than £1000 for selling fake Ray-Bans, Gucci sunglasses and Armani t-shirts at Farmer Palmer's car boot sale.

Dorset County Council’s trading standards officers seized 215 items from trader Keith Eaton at the sale held at Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park, near Wareham.

He was found by trading standards officers with a stall at the car boot sale, held regularly at the Farmer Palmer’s site, where he had 71 pairs of counterfeit sunglasses bearing trademarks such as Gucci, Dior and Ray-Ban,143 t-shirts bearing nine different trademarks including Armani, Hollister and Superdry and a Moncler track suit.

Mr Eaton, 49, of Grantham Road, Bournemouth appeared at Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court on 27 October where he pleaded guilty to six offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994 of being in possession of counterfeit goods in the course of a business.

He told the court that he did not realise that the goods were counterfeit and he had bought the goods from another trader who he could not identify.

He was fined £250 and ordered to pay costs of £808 with a victim surcharge of £28. A forfeiture order was made for the disposal of the counterfeit goods seized.

Cllr Colin Jamieson, the council’s Cabinet member for economy and growth, said: “The sale of counterfeit goods at any of Dorset markets or car boot sales unfairly competes with legitimate market traders and local businesses.

“Cheap copies also damage the reputation of genuine branded goods. Counterfeit goods will be seized by trading standards officers and formal enforcement action considered, especially where there are significant quantities involved.”

Anyone who suspects they may have bought counterfeit goods or wishes to report the sale of counterfeit goods should contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06. This is the first point of contact for any consumer complaints requiring investigation by trading standards officers.