AN illegal DVD seller has been jailed after being caught during a clampdown on street sellers in a shopping area.

Xiong Chen, 44, of Northumberland Court, in Hackney, was caught by officers in the Leyton Mills retail park and jailed for 10 weeks.

Zhi Lee Chen, 40, of no fixed abode, was also charged, but was given a conditional discharge.

Two men running illegal street gambling contests were also charged as part of Operation Mirage, which targeted anti-social behaviour at the retail park.

Constantin Tarida, 49, of Belvedere Road, Leyton, was fined £600, with £85 costs and an additional charge of £15.

Street gambler Marius Iercan Ion, 36, of Park Avenue, Barking, was also caught at the retail park and was given a conditional discharge with costs of £30.

Since Leyton Mills was given its own police patrol team in March this year, the number of thefts from cars parked there has also gone down.

A spokeswoman for Waltham Forest Police said: “The Leyton Mills Patrol Team commenced dedicated patrols of the retail park on March 21.

“During 2008, there were 42 reported thefts from motor vehicles taking place within Leyton Mills Retail Park and 16 in the first three months of 2009.

“Since the team started there have been 13 reported thefts from motor vehicles taking place there, hence a significant reduction.”

Officers there have also carried out automated number plate reading operations there in a bid to catch uninsured motorists and a further operation is planned for early in the new year.