Express & Star

Couple guilty of making thousands of fake DVDs

A couple have admitted making thousands of fake DVDs worth tens of thousands of pounds in their family home.

Published

A couple have admitted making thousands of fake DVDs worth tens of thousands of pounds in their family home.

Simon Evans, aged 43, of Borough Crescent, Oldbury, pleaded guilty to 32 counts of counterfeiting DVDs and CDs and one count of transferring criminal funds.

His wife Trudy, aged 48, of the same address, pleaded guilty to five counts of money laundering when they appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday. The couple's home was raided by police on November 27, 2008.

The raid was a joint operation between the Federation Against Copyright Theft, Sandwell Trading Standards and West Midlands Police.

In the house they found thousands of fake DVDs and music CDs, which included Hollywood films, TV box sets and pornography. They also found copying equipment.

Trading standards officials described the Evans' business as a "sophisticated operation" whereby each customer had a password to enter their websites.

The entire operation was internet based and customers would pay using the businesses Paypal account. Trading Standards said the business had been running since February 2003 and the couple had made tens of thousands of pounds.

Between April 2005 and June 2007 £49,200 was transferred from the PayPal account into their own bank account and between June 2007 and December 2008 £39,482 was transferred.

The couple's daughter Abigail Nemedi, aged 24, of Edison Way, Nottingham, had faced three counts of money laundering but no evidence was offered and she was found not guilty.

Mr Mark Jackson prosecuting on behalf of Sandwell Council said they would be making a proceeds of crime application. The couple will be sentenced on August 30.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.