A Letchworth man is counting the cost of trading fake goods.

Mark Shepherd, of Highfield, was ordered to pay £160,000 in confiscation and £37,553 in prosecution costs on Thursday at St Albans Crown Court.

In June 2011, several thousand items including clothing and jewellery which were believed to be counterfeit were seized during police raids at two private addresses, one belonging to Shepherd, and another in High Avenue.

The hearing follows his sentencing on April 30 to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years, and 150 hours of unpaid work.

The 48-year-old had earlier pleaded guilty to seven charges relating to trademark offences.

Shepherd was given until the end of November to pay the prosecution costs and the end of March to pay the £160,000.

Failure to do so could result in a prison sentence.

Councillor Richard Thake, responsible for community safety at Hertfordshire County Council, said: “The sale of counterfeit goods and illegal cigarettes damages the whole community.

“In particular, honest local shopkeepers suffer when sales are lost to criminals who peddle these illegal goods.

“The money recovered from the confiscation hearing will help fund further operations to protect our communities from crimes like this.”