Three traders were sentenced on Friday after admitting selling fake goods at Bovingdon Market.

The sentencing on two directors of Wendy Fair, which runs the market, was adjourned. They had been convicted of money laundering.

The stallholders were said by the prosecution to be part of the 20 per cent who were openly trading in counterfeits.

David Groome, prosecuting at St Albans Crown Court, said that in the course of 2004 and 2005 the market had developed a reputation for selling fakes.

He told the court that Wendy Fair Markets Limited, the company that operated the market on the disused airfield, had “turned a blind eye”.

Between April 30 and November 12, 2005 Herts Trading Standards officers launched an investigation and undercover operations and test purchases were carried out.

Stallholder John Granger, 57, formerly of Holt Road, Romford, and now retired to Spain, was caught when test purchases of fake Nike, Prada and Timberland track suits were made and 204 items were seized from his stall, along with ?196 in takings.

He was ordered to pay a ?1,000 fine and ?2,500 costs after he pleaded guilty to unauthorised use of trade marks.

Another stall run by Gareth Richards, 26, of Lower End Road, Milton Keynes and Ricci Jones, 38, of Dylan Court, Houghton Regis, was selling counterfeit DVDs and clothing. In all, 607 counterfeit DVDs were seized along with ?69 in takings. Richards and Jones admitted two charges of unlawful use of trade marks.

Judge Stephen Warner ordered Richards to pay a fine of ?750 with a further ?1,500 costs. Jones, who had a previous conviction for a similar offence, was ordered to complete 80 hours unpaid work and pay ?750 costs.

Sentencing on Wendy Fair Markets Ltd and directors Sally Ward and Nicholas Hobday was adjourned pending a confiscation hearing.

In July Wendy Fair Markets Ltd, Sally Ward, 44, of Woodland Road, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth and Nicholas Hobday, 46, of Stoke Road, Blisworth, Northants were convicted of money laundering.

Mr Groome said the prosecution case for the confiscation hearing was that Wendy Fair Markets had a benefit of ?1.4 million from its operation at Bovingdon.

David Scutt, for Sally Ward said she would be appealing against conviction.