A Bolton man who works with youngsters in the town sold counterfeit football tops over a seven-year period.

Ahmed Hafeji sold tops on a social media website from 2016 until he came to the attention of the police this year.

Bolton Crown Court heard he was caught as part of a police investigation into the sale of counterfeit tops.

Gurdit Singh, prosecuting, said: “There was a test purchase from this social media site.

“The purchase never arrived.

“They contacted the seller.

“They received an explanation that the seller had issues with courier services and he would send the items.

“He said he would change courier and they should arrive in the new two weeks.

“The delivery arrived with the external investigators.

“The invoice for payment was in the name of Ahmed Hafeji.

“Officers executed a warrant.

“As they were arresting the defendant there was a parcel at the door with delivery service of nine football kits suspected to be counterfeit.

“A statement from the officers outlines the estimated loss to the industry, that would be £240,561.51.”

Hafeji, from Quebec Street, Bolton, appeared in court to be sentenced after admitting selling goods with a counterfeit sign likely to be mistaken from a registered trademark.

Gabriele Watts, defending, said: “It started as he was ordering shirts for himself and family.

“After a while people started asking him to put in orders on their behalf.

“It went from that – it was just purchasing a few items for friends and family.”

She added that he was working as a learning coach at a school in Bolton and a prison sentence would jeopardise the training he was taking part in as part of this.

She added that he and his wife were terrified of the prospect of him going to prison and the offending, which had led to multiple relatives of his having their bank accounts frozen, had brought shame on the family.

Judge Nicholas Clarke KC will sentence Hafeji, 29, later this month.