'Pay back or stay in jail' fraudster told
A Black Country fraudster who lived a life of luxury while selling cheap knock-offs of Hollywood hits has been ordered to pay back a six-figure sum to avoid more time behind bars.
Steven Adams, of Loweswater Drive, Lower Gornal, Dudley, will be forced to pay £109,252.27 within six months or face another two years in prison.
A proceeds of crime hearing was held to settle the amount he needed to pay back following his sentence.
Billing himself as a computer repair man, the 38-year-old was the brains behind a huge software and counterfeiting racket that amassed him an estimated personal fortune of at least £200,000.
Adams splashed out on an apartment in Spain, a £25,000 Range Rover, a £14,600 Rolex watch and weight-loss surgery while masterminding the film and software piracy operation.
He is currently serving three years after being jailed last November, following his arrest at a computer fair held at Wolverhampton Racecourse.
Recorder William Andreas-Jones, at Wolverhampton Crown Court believes Adams needs to pay the money for his "substantial" crime.
He told Adams: "Its important you realise this money has got to paid back in six months, otherwise you will face another two years jail."
Adams was caught following a joint investigation between Wolverhampton trading standards and anti-piracy body the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association.
Wolverhampton City Council's trading standards manager, Peter Calvert, is pleased the authority's first proceeds of crime act prosecution had been successful.
He said: "This case shows that we are taking money off criminals and they cannot just sit in prison and come out to their ill-gotten gains."
"This is the first time we have taken this action, so clearly the court will look at what evidence is put in front of them and have come to this decision.
"I think this is a substantial sum and I'm pleased with the outcome. We will continue to work with West Midlands Police on similar cases in the future."
Adams was repeatedly found selling copied discs containing Hollywood hits and the games, making a profit of around £3 on each sale at fairs as far away as Blackpool.
His accomplice and girlfriend, 33-year-old Julie Frendo, of Crawford Avenue, Ettingshall, Wolverhampton was given a 12-month jail sentence last November, suspended for 18 months for her part in the scam.
Frendo was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and to pay £5,383 costs.
Another man involved in the scam, Gregg Gartside, aged 32, of Chorley, Lancashire, received a community order from a judge in November, after touting games and software for at Carlisle Racecourse last September.
Adams admitted 41 breaches of trademark legislation over a three-year period. He also pleaded guilty to three charges of having DVD and CD duplicating towers.
Frendo admitted possession of a DVD duplicating tower and eight offences of selling discs at computer fairs around the Midlands.
Gartside admitted six charges of selling pirate discs at venues in the north of England.
