A rogue market trader who was caught flogging fake designer goods at a market has been ordered to hand back tens of thousands of pounds in profits by a judge.

Musawar Hussain, from Forest Gate in east London, has been told to pay nearly £51,000 and more than £10,000 in legal costs after he was rumbled by an on-going council crackdown on counterfeit goods.

He pocketed huge sums of cash selling dodgy clobber at his Sunday morning stall at New Covent Garden Market in Nine Elms.

Wandsworth Council's trading standards officers put a stop to the crime by raiding Hussain's stall in December, 2009 - finding 730 items including fake copies of Adidas, Ralph Lauren, Armani and Nike clothing and sunglasses.

He was given a 12-month community order and told to complete 200 hours of unpaid work when he appeared before Kingston Crown Court in June last year.

But the council took further action against Hussain to ensure he did not profit from breaching consumer protection and copyright laws.

At Kingston Crown Court, last week, he was ordered to pay £50,920 to the public purse and also the council’s legal costs of £10,675.

He was told he will face an 18 month prison sentence if the confiscated amount of money is not paid back within six months.

The council’s spokesman on consumer protection Councillor Jonathan Cook said: "We are determined to show that this kind of crime does not pay.

"Many hundreds of people have been conned. They have handed over large sums of money for inferior and low quality goods.

"At least that money will now be handed back to the public purse where it can be used for the benefit of the community rather than simply lining Mr Hussain’s pockets."

Law enforcement agencies in the UK and Europe believe those involved in the production and manufacture of counterfeit goods could have links to organised criminal gangs who finance people smuggling, fraud, drugs and prostitution.

Concerns have also been expressed that some of the profits from this trade may also be used to finance acts of terrorism.

Anyone with concerns about the sale of fake and counterfeit items should call trading standards on 020 8871 7720 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.