A rogue dealer caught doing a "roaring trade" in counterfeit clothing at one of North Yorkshire's largest car boot sales was today starting a six-month prison sentence.

After the hearing at Selby Magistrates' Court, North Yorkshire County Council trading standards officers pledged to continue their crackdown on car boot dealers trading in fake clothes and other phoney products.

Ernest Moate, 44, admitted 10 offences of possessing counterfeit goods for sale at the Sunday morning car boot sale at Whitley Bridge, near Selby, which attracts thousands of punters from all over Yorkshire.

The rogue clothing included false trade marks of leading brand names and designer labels such as Nike, Saint Laurent, Reebok, Umbro, Ellesse, Adidas and Tommy Hilfiger.

Trading standards officer Alex Lynn, prosecuting, said the items on Moate's stall included jeans, sweatshirts and T-shirts.

The defendant was reported to police by a fellow stallholder, who described him as "doing a roaring trade."

Moate told police, who seized the goods, that he was doing nothing wrong in selling "snide" gear. He said the advertising on the clothes was irrelevant because he told customers they were not genuine.

He refused to disclose where he had bought the clothing.

Mr Lynn said the problem of counterfeit goods was escalating, with trade marks almost indistinguishable from the genuine article.He said consumers were cheated, local retailers disadvantaged, and the reputations of companies put at risk.

Moate, of Redbrook, near Barnsley, said: "These clothes aren't blatant copies; they're reasonable quality and reasonable prices. There was no dishonesty involved because they were sold as fake. The trader who called the police was just jealous of all the trade I was doing.

"My items are for people who can't afford the real thing.

"I charge £8 for a sweatshirt and £3 for a T-shirt and they're good value for money. No-one is being ripped off."

Richard Flinton, from North Yorkshire Trading Standards Department, told the Evening Press later there had been a big increase in car boot sales and Sunday markets all over the county.

The vast majority of traders were genuine, but the venues also attracted rogues, and consumers had to be on their guard.

He said: "This custodial sentence demonstrates that courts are taking these matters seriously, and we will pursue anyone who deals in counterfeit goods."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.