A businessman has been jailed for 18 months for selling counterfeit washing powder, shampoo and conditioner.

Ali Riza Bozdag, of Reedham Close in Tottenham, was also ordered to make a contribution of £5,000 towards legal costs and pay a £100 victim surcharge on his release from prison.

Bozdag, 48, was caught by Trading Standards with the fake products at the premises of his company, Red and Blue London Trading Ltd at Leyton Industrial Village in Argall Avenue last year.

The jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court found Bozdag had not exercised the relevant standard of care necessary to avoid committing an offence under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and had not acted as a responsible trader.

There is a Proceeds of Crime Confiscation Order pending, with a hearing likely to take place later this year.

Sentencing, the Judge said, “Counterfeiting is not a victimless crime, which is expensive and time consuming to detect.

“Counterfeiting undermines the trust people have in legitimate trademarks and legitimate traders need to work harder as their businesses are undermined.”

Bozdag was brought to the attention of Waltham Forest Trading Standards in July last year when information that a consignment of 2640 8kg boxes of counterfeit washing powder destined for his business premises had been intercepted by customs.

A month later Waltham Forest Trading Standards officers attended the premises.

Suspected counterfeit washing powder, conditioner and shampoo was seized and Mr Bozdag was arrested.

After confirming he was the sole owner and director of the company, he did not dispute that the goods were counterfeit, but claimed he did not know, and had no way of knowing.

He denied that the shampoo and conditioner on his forecourt belonged to him, claiming it was destined for the waste management company next door.

When questioned, the waste management company denied any connection with the items.