FAKE antiques seized from a fraudster who conned a couple into buying them will be used by students learning to be valuation experts.

Consumer watchdogs have donated the items, which were sold by Stephen Constantine, to Southamp-ton Institute.

The "antiques", which were cobbled together from new and old parts or were modern reproductions, are the latest additions to its Fine Arts Valuation Study Collection - an Aladdin's cave of genuine and fake treasures.

Southampton trading standards successfully prosecuted Con-stantine, 45, (pictured left) from Christchurch, at the city's magistrates' court.

He admitted 14 offences under the Trade Descriptions Act and was given a 12-month conditional discharge.

At the hearing last month Constantine handed over £2,805 in compensation to Mark and Sandra Jurd, from Bassett, who he swindled over an 18-month period.

Magistrates ordered that the goods must be forfeited to the city council so they could be handed over to the institute.

Housing, community and regeneration vice-chairman Councillor Jacqui Rayment presented them to the built environment faculty.

She said: "Rather than destroying the items, which would be our normal way of dealing with them, it is much more useful to work in partnership with the institute to give the students the opportunity of studying them.

"This was an unusual case that goes to prove how easily the public can be fooled.

"It was another good result for our trading standards office."

Dean of the faculty, Peter Coupe, said: "The addition of these items is very much appreciated because it will broaden the range of silverware in our unique collection.

"They will enable students to learn to recognise fakes, which is part of their antiques handling on the degree courses."

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