Man caught with 1,300 fake DVDs (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Man caught with 1,300 fake DVDs

A MARKET trader who was selling counterfeit DVDs, some of which had not even been released, has escaped prison.

John Aldridge, 48, from Meadow-croft in Upper Stratton, Swindon, was caught twice within a month selling the counterfeit goods by officers from Gloucestershire County Council trading standards.

On the first occasion he was caught at a market in Moreton in Marsh in Gloucestershire where 833 DVDs were seized and one month later a further 475 DVDs were seized as he traded at Gloucester market.

Officers said several of the titles seized from the stall had not been released on DVD at the time they were taken.

At Gloucester Magistrates Court last week he escaped with a 160-hour community punishment order. He had pleaded guilty the offences of selling counterfeit films in July.

Emphasising that they viewed the offences seriously, magistrates advised Aldridge they had considered prison as a real option when deciding upon the sentence.

However in view of his good character and character references, the magistrates had decided to reduce this to a 160 hour community punishment order together with a contribution towards the costs of bringing the prosecution to court. They also ordered that the counterfeit goods be forfeited to the trading standards.

Roger Marles, head of Gloucestershire trading standards, said: "This is a serious punishment which reflects the way the crime of counterfeiting is seen by the courts.

"It is not a victimless crime but one which has an impact on those who buy the copies, as well as on other market traders.

"It also damages the local economy as legitimate shopkeepers and retailers who sell, rent or show films to the public, suffer loss of trade as a result of the sale of counterfeits."

Jamie Hill