A FORMER second-hand car trader caught with fake designer goods was trying to support his family after being invalided out of work, a court heard.

Peter Dougherty, 42, of Fifth Avenue, York, admitted 16 specimen charges of possessing counterfeit clothing and cosmetics when he appeared before magistrates in the city.

Colin Rumford, head of City of York Council's Trading Standards, said police seized 321 garments with designer labels such as Paul Smith, Tommy and Armani, when they raided Dougherty's home in April. They were all found to be fake.

Dougherty said he bought the goods in Manchester believing they were slight seconds and it was the first time he had bought clothes to sell.

But, said Mr Rumford, police had staked-out Dougherty's home in February and had seen various consignments of clothing coming and going.

In December last year his offices in York were raided and officers found fake bottles of aftershave, clothing and Henry Lloyd labels.

Dougherty said he believed the goods were seconds because of the low price he paid.

He admitted Armani jeans seized in this raid were fakes and he had intended to sell them.

In mitigation Dougherty's solicitor Philip Crowe said his client had been on invalidity benefit for about six years after having to stop work as a car trader.

He had a wife and two young sons and money was tight.

He decided to go into business selling clothes to his friends and borrowed £5,000 from others to fund it.

He said Dougherty continued to sell the goods to pay back the loan.

Magistrates adjourned sentencing until June 18 so probation reports could be drawn up.

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