DISNEY character Piglet is playing a major role in a borough council prosecution against a stallholder accused of selling counterfeit mobile phone covers.

Trading standards officers discovered the fakes, bearing registered trademarks, when they raided a stall at the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet Village, Swindon Crown Court heard.

Stallholder Atma Kular denied 12 counts involving registered trademarks such as Manchester United and Disney's Piglet.

Prosecuting counsel James Wilson-Smith, said that Kular had two stalls, one at the outlet centre and another outside the Market Hall in the town centre.

In February 2001 council trading standards became concerned that mobile phone covers bearing counterfeit trademarks were being sold in the town.

The quality and packaging of some covers displayed on Kular's town centre stall indicated that they could be fakes and a trading standards officer approached him, advised him of his fears and issued a warning notice.

It advised traders to be careful that they only sold genuine licensed products.

Ten months later another trading standards officer bought a fascia from the other stall.

It was carrying the Manchester United crest but tests later revealed it to be a fake, said Mr Wilson-Smith.

The following day she went to the town centre stall and bought another cover, which was also confirmed as a counterfeit.

A raid was finally carried out on March 12, 2002, and 31 covers were seized.

A man running the stall told the officers it was owned by Steve Kular and explained the usual selling price was £12.

When he was arrested Kular, of King Henry Drive, Grange Park, said that they had all come from the same supplier in London and he had asked for an assurance that they were authentic, said Mr Wilson-Smith.

The case continues.

Tina Clarke