8:10am Saturday 27th October 2007
By Jeff Weaver
A THORNBURY man caught running a video copying operation from a mini factory at his home in the town has admitted counterfeiting charges.
Bristol Crown Court heard how consumer watchdogs discovered computer and copying equipment and hundreds of pirated films, music discs, computer games and pornography when they raided Gary Boulter's home in Knapp Road.
Experts estimated the legitimate market value of the films alone at almost £50,000 and music discs at a further £3,000.
Boulter, 50, admitted a total of 23 offences relating to the possessing for sale of counterfeit films, music, computer games and pornography on recordable discs and asked for a further 144 similar offences be taken into consideration.
Judge Simon Darwall-Smith ordered reports and adjourned sentencing until later this year.
Boulter had originally entered not guilty pleas to 19 Trade Mark Act charges brought by South Gloucestershire Council and was set to go for trial until he changed his pleas on the day of the hearing.
Alan Fuller, prosecuting, said council trading standards officers began investigating following a tip-off alleging that Boulter was running a mini copying factory from his home.
A raid on the house in December 2005 revealed a whole room set up for copying film, music, games and pornography.
Items removed for examination included computer and copying equipment as well as a total of 1,640 copied films on disc, 453 copied pornographic films, 232 copied music discs (which included MP3s capable of holding numerous music albums) and copied X Box and Playstation games.
In addition, nearly 500 blank DVD-R discs and 173 copied inlays for latest title films were confiscated.
Forensic examination of his computer established that Boulter was copying in response to orders he was taking on a regular basis from friends and contacts.
During interview Boulter claimed that he did the copying as a hobby and gave the discs to friends and family at no cost despite the fact that it was costing him to do so.
However, said the prosecutor, evidence retrieved from the computer clearly demonstrated that he was receiving payment.
South Gloucestershire trading standards senior enforcement officer Neil Derrick said after the hearing: "He was clearly running a large-scale copying operation from his home and thought he was beyond our reach.
"As the result of a tip-off we have effectively put him out of business and all of his computer equipment and stock will be confiscated at the conclusion of the case.
"He obviously had no regard for the local retailers whose businesses are badly affected by counterfeiting and he was supplying pornographic films, which are age-restricted and should only be sold by a licensed sex shop."
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