A man found with over 500 packets of fake cigarettes in the boot of his car has been fined nearly £5,000.

Victor Cheke was responsible for delivering goods to a shop in Green Lanes, however the owner became suspicious the Marlboro-branded cigarettes were counterfeit, and contacted Enfield Council.

Trading standards officers found 540 packets in the car of Cheke, 46, in a car park in Peterborough on November 5, 2015, which were found to be fakes without the necessary health warnings.

He used numerous identities to ship the illegal cigarettes from China. Text and Skype messages found on his phone and computers showed that he had established customers, and he admitted he went door-to-door selling the fake fags.

Cheke, of Thistlemoor Road, Peterborough, pleaded guilty at Tottenham Magistrates’ Court on August 18.

He was fined £400, ordered to pay £4,060 in costs and charges, and given an eight-week curfew.

Council cabinet member for environment, Cllr Daniel Anderson, said: “Counterfeit cigarettes are even more dangerous than regular tobacco and, because they are not subject to duty fees, their sale disadvantages honest traders.

“We will continue to pursue illegal traders, prosecuting wherever possible, to protect honest businesses in Enfield.”