A WEBSITE salesman pleaded guilty at Swindon Magistrates Court to offences relating to the sale of designer handbags over the internet.

But his scam was uncovered by a Swindon trading standards officer.

Jason Herbert, 34, of Larkfield, in Kent, set up a website selling designer bags, sunglasses and shoes.

He described the items he sold as replicas, similar in look and design but not the genuine article.

When orders were received, he would then contact his supplier in Malaysia who would then post the item directly to the consumer.

The scam was uncovered when Trading Standards Officer, Chris Williams, began a routine search of the internet to detect traders selling counterfeit goods.

Mr Williams ordered a Burberry handbag and a Louis Vuitton cosmetics case, paying £88 by cheque.

Herbert, who pleaded guilty to four charges under the Trade Marks Act 1994, admitted to making between £10 to £30 from each item sold and that his total gross profit from the venture was between £2,000-£3,000.

He claimed that he had set up the website as a way to make some extra money and had not realised what he was doing was illegal.

Herbert was conditionally discharged and ordered to pay costs totalling £2,049.24.

"Some consumers believe buying counterfeit goods saves money and doesn't do any harm,'' said Robert Taylour, the public protection group leader.

"But the counterfeiters are harming legitimate businesses which put jobs at risk."