Trader sold porn and fake movies
BIG HAUL -- some of the DVDs that Paul Lawrence was caught selling
A TRADER at a Hucknall car-boot sale has received a ten-month prison sentence for selling counterfeit and pornographic DVDs.
Paul Lawrence (38) was caught with 800 counterfeit DVDs at the sale in April during an investigation by trading standards officers of Notts County Council, Nottingham Crown Court was told.
The court heard that DVD titles for sale included ‘John Carter’ and a box set of ‘Glee’ and ‘Gruffalo’s Child’, along with a number of uncertified DVDs ‘of a pornographic nature’.
Lawrence’s home address on Blackstone Close, Alfreton, Derbyshire was also raided by the trading standards officers, who seized photocopying equipment and DVDs as part of the prosecution.
He pleaded guilty to two charges under the Copyright Design and Patents Act 1988 and seven charges under the Trademarks Act 1994.
The prosecution follows a previous offence when Lawrence was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work for selling 700 counterfeit DVDs on the market in September 2011.
The estimated cost of counterfeit goods to the UK economy is a staggering half a billion pounds each year in taxes and loss of revenue to legitimate businesses.
The council’s trading standards department has launched a Proceeds of Crime investigation with a view to recovering any profits Lawrence has made from his illegal activity.
Coun Mick Murphy (Con), of Hucknall, who is the county council’s Cabinet member for community safety, said: “Lawrence was caught in April just a month after he was given a community order for his previous offence for selling DVDs.
“Therefore, the prison sentence he has received for his latest misdemeanours sends out a clear message that persistent offenders will be caught and punished for their actions.
“Counterfeit goods reduce trade for legitimate retailers, which has a negative impact on the local economy along with honest businesses and their employees.
“We are working more closely with market and car-boot sale operators to ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities in not allowing counterfeit items to be sold at their events. Our trading standards are very vigilant in cracking down on such offences.”
To report someone selling counterfeit goods, you are urged to call the Citizens’ Advice consumer service on 08454 04 05 06.
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Sunday 26 May 2013
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