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A huge haul of air pistols, “zombie” knives and fake designer gear was seized from the home of a rogue trader.

Zeki Cakal was selling the counterfeit gear online and at markets for more than two years until he was finally caught in a Trading Standards sting, a court heard.

Officers raided the 48-year-old’s home in Elswick , Newcastle, and confiscated the knives and air pistols, as well as more than 600 knock-off items, including childrens’ toys, Nike trainers and tracksuits, Ugg boots, cosmetics, perfume, DVDs and Golden Virginia and Amber Leaf tobacco.

In total, around £30,000-worth of fake and illegal products were seized by Trading Standards Officers and Northumbria Police, the Chronicle Live reported.

(Image: Tim McGuinness)

Now, Cakal, of Durham Street, Elswick, had been given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to 10 offences of possessing goods with a false trade mark for sale or hire at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

Melanie Bulman, prosecuting on behalf of Newcastle City Council, said Cakal, who is originally from Turkey, faced 10 specimen charges for the 636 counterfeit items seized from his home.

Ms Bulman said he first came onto the Trading Standards radar after reports that he was flogging fake goods on markets in Catterick, in North Yorkshire, and in areas of the North East and via a page on Facebook.

(Image: Tim McGuinness)

Ms Bulman added: “A letter was sent to Mr Cakal and he was asked to contact Trading Standards but no contact was made by Mr Cakal.

“On October 10 2016, information was received from South Tyneside Trading Standards department about a Facebook profile selling tobacco and other items believed to be counterfeit.

“A visit was made to his address of Durham Street in order to speak to Mr Cakal. Although there was no contact, a large cardboard box was outside the property containing shoe boxes.”

Further letters were sent to Cakal but no response was received, prompting officers to gain a warrant to raid his home address on October 27 last year.

(Image: Tim McGuinness)

Fake goods were found stashed in his bedrooms, living room, loft and car, which were confirmed to be counterfeit after examination.

Cakal was interviewed under caution and has now been given an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for two years. He was also made subject of a curfew for 16 weeks between 7pm and 7am, and ordered to pay £585 costs

Gerry Bass, mitigating, said Cakal used to legitimately sell childrens’ clothing on a market but had recently struggled to compete after some supermarkets and shops slashed their prices.

He said: “The injured parties here are the big companies. The customers who buy these items know full well, they’re not the real deal.

“The customers are not duped or fooled. The people who are sinned against are the big companies, like Nike and Ugg. But, it’s illegal and he accepts it’s illegal.”

(Image: Tim McGuinness)

Newcastle City Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulation, Coun Nick Kemp, said: “This was a significant haul of counterfeit goods including air guns and zombie knives. Heaven knows what harm they could have caused in the wrong hands.

“I’d like to congratulate our Trading Standards team for preventing these things from getting onto our streets.

“This sentence, the financial penalties, and confiscation of all these items sends a message to anyone thinking of selling counterfeit goods that we will catch them and put them before the courts and it will cost them dearly. Anyone with information about counterfeit goods should contact trading standards on 0191 2787878.”