Family pays to save rogue trader

The family of a 53-year-old market trader convicted of selling fake designer clothing in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire has saved him from jail.

Jhalman Singh, from Bedford, was given a confiscation order for £585,442 for selling goods at Bedford and St Neots.

He paid about half the sum on 25 April when he appeared at Luton Crown Court.

Judge John Bevan remanded him to prison to ensure the rest was paid. His family has now paid the balance but he remains in jail until 29 banker's drafts clear.

Singh was threatened with five years in jail if he failed to meet the court deadline.

He expected to be freed after relatives raised £274,000 delivered to the Serious Organised Crime Agency in the form of 29 banker's drafts.

But the agency said the money had not yet been cleared.

Judge Bevan sent Singh back to jail until the money does clear and that will probably be on Monday.

Singh, 53, of Warwick Avenue, Bedford, was convicted of trademark offences in August 2005 and ordered to do community service.

This followed a raid on his market stalls in May 2003 and November 2004.