A WELLINGTON man escaped jail after admitting possessing counterfeit football shirts to be sold on the internet.

Leon Sprague, 32, of Dobree Park, Wellington, pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing goods with false trademarks at Taunton Crown Court on Tuesday.

During a raid on his home on July 15 2008 police found football shirts and laminated certificates of authentication as well as 109 post office special delivery receipts, a laminating machine and £1,927 in cash.

The shirts, which were sold for between £31 and £112 during 2007, were examined by brand experts from Nike and Adidas and were found to be fake.

Police also found 355 transactions had taken place on Sprague’s Ebay and PayPal accounts between December 20 2006 and December 17 2007.

The court heard how Sprague, who had no previous criminal record, denied the charges but changed his plea when his case was listed for trial.

As part of his plea, Sprague said although £14,828.96 had passed through his Ebay and PayPal account, he had not received the money and said a friend in Thailand, who asked to use his accounts, was responsible.

Sentencing Judge Graham Hume Jones said: “You were extremely stupid to be involved with this person and you should have looked into it.

“It must have been as obvious as anything that something was going on that shouldn’t be.”

He added: “The offences would be regarded in the court’s custodial threshold as it interferes with business.

“But your plea has been accepted that your friend was selling the items through your account.”

Sprague was given a 12-month community order and told to complete 150 hours unpaid work.