Trading standards officers are furious after a gang who fleeced gullible shoppers out of thousands walked free from court.

The devious team behind The Outlet mock-auction store in Brighton heaved a collective sigh of relief as they were sentenced to community service yesterday - escaping possible jail terms of up to two years.

A jury last month convicted the six of conspiring to defraud the public following an investigation costing Brighton and Hove council tax payers almost £85,000.

The city's trading standards department raided the North Street store after receiving more complaints about it than any other business in living memory.

At Hove Crown Court, Judge Richard Hayward praised trading standards for its prosecution of the case, saying although it had been expensive it had been right and proper to bring.

But he ruled out jail terms, saying most of the six had no previous convictions and the prison system was already overcrowded.

Brighton and Hove principal trading standards officer Ray Moore said: "I do feel disappointed.

"The judge's reasoning was impeccable and reflects the stresses and strains the whole criminal justice system is under at the moment.

"But it is very frustrating.I suspect they have got about one hour's community service for every hour we've put into this investigation."

Sentencing John Cook, the driving force behind the scam, to 200 hours' service, the judge said: "Having conspired to fleece the public it is right you should do something to the benefit of that public."

But he warned: "People who organise conspiracies to defraud the public should know they run the risk of being imprisoned."

He told the six: "It is clear you still do not see how you could have acted dishonestly. I'm afraid that only reflects your own standards of honesty."

David Cranston, of Stotfield, Hertfordshire, was sentenced to 180 hours community service; John Sexton, of Tufnell Park Road, London, to 140 hours; and Lisa Firth, of Greenacres, Shoreham, Liam McBratney, of Landsdowne Place, Hove, and Barry Joseph of Islington, London, to 100 hours each for their part in the scam which raked in £77,000 in less than six weeks.

Last month we revealed mother-of-one Firth was working for the city council while it was preparing its case against her. The court heard she had now resigned.

Those behind the operation, which made on average more than £2,300 a day, were ordered to pay a share of the prosecution's costs, as well as compensation.

Cook was ordered to pay £400 compensation and £500 costs; Cranston £300 compensation, £500 costs; Sexton £200 compensation and £250 costs; and Joseph, McBratney and Firth £100 compensation each.