Rugby star Gareth Raynor faces jail for selling fake computer games on eBay

Gareth Raynor, 32, was told by Judge Roger Thorn QC that "all options were open" when he is sentenced next month.

The winger, who previously played for Leeds Rhinos and Hull FC before moving to Celtic Crusaders earlier this year, ran an eBay company named Genuine Ink which sold supposedly genuine cartridges to online punters.

However an investigation by East Riding Council's trading standards department found that Raynor had imported second-hand cartridges from China and then repackaged them, using glossy packaging to make them look like brands including Epsom, Canon and Hewlett Packard.

During a raid in August 2008, investigators found a large quantity of cartridges in the garage of his home, which he shares with partner Catriona Thomson, 27.

Forensic examination of his computers revealed e-mails sent by Raynor to his suppliers effectively asking that the goods appeared as genuine as possible.

Raynor, who has won six caps for Great Britain and scored the winning try in the 2006 Tri-Nations victory against Australia in Sydney, is estimated to have earned 36,654 selling around 3,000 cartridges on the auction site as well as various counterfeit computer games.

The player, who was supported at Hull Crown Court yesterday by club coach and former Britain supremo Brian Noble, admitted 13 charges of counterfeiting and one of fraud between May 2007 and August 2008.

Raynor, who narrowly avoided jail in 2008 after admitting a racially-aggravated assault on a barman at a lapdancing club in Blackpool, appeared in the dock next to Thomson, who had faced the same charges but was formally found not guilty after the prosecution offered no evidence against her.

The brunette gave her boyfriend an affectionate kiss on the cheek before she was released from the dock.

Judge Thorn ordered Raynor, of Brough, East Yorkshire, to return to learn his fate in three weeks after the completion of a pre-sentence report.

The sportsman was given unconditional bail. A date for a proceeds of crime hearing will be set at the sentencing hearing. Matthew Drew, corporate security manager for Epson, said: "There are two victims in this sort of offence – the brands, and the consumers because they are not getting the genuine product.

"We were surprised when we found out what this defendant's background was, but we are sure he will be treated in exactly the same way as any other defendant.

"Counterfeiting is a complex crime and is often part of what is effectively and organised crime network."

Leeds-born Raynor was given a suspended jail sentence after admitting racially abusing a doorman and attempting to gouge his eyes during a stag party at the Wild Cats bar in Blackpool. Raynor had also launched a flying rugby tackle at the bouncer after he was asked to leave.

Judge Edward Slinger said only references from his club, which described him as a "fantastic role model for the black and ethnic community", had saved him from an immediate custodial term.