The ringleader of a family-run counterfeit goods business has been jailed following a Trading Standards operation. 

Mastermind Ashish Chopra, 32, of Franklyn Gardens in Ilford was jailed for two-and-a-half years at Basildon Crown Court, alongside his brother Chahat Chopra, 25, and wife Tina Chopra, 31, who were each given 18 month suspended sentences. 

The trio, who all lived at the same Ilford address, became known to the authorities after Trading Standards seized fake Ugg, Juicy Couture, Chanel, Gucci The White Company, Christian Louboutin and Louis Vuitton goods from a storage centre rented out in the family's name in Harold Wood, Essex. 

Officers then raided their home where they uncovered fake Ed Hardy clothing, £14,000 in cash, paperwork relating to the purchases and a dissertation by Chahat Chopra entitled 'Why do consumers and customers buy counterfeit products?’ 

The fake goods, largely shipped from China, were sold on eBay, Facebook, at London markets and at car boot sales all over the UK. 

After seizing the family computers, it was revealed more than £580,000 had been transferred to China from a number of bank accounts linked to the trio. 

Despite the first raid, they continued to import various goods and, after officers executed a second search warrant, they seized a further 2,000 counterfeit items. 

During sentencing, the judge ordered Chahat Chopra and Tina Chopra to carry out a combined 350 hours of unpaid work.