Brierley Hill shopkeeper jailed over fake DVDs

A shopkeeper who produced thousands of counterfeit DVD and computer games in the basement of his Brierley Hill store has been jailed for 18 months.

Trading Standards officers discovered the haul, which had an estimated retail value of more than £500,000, when they raided the MF Media shop run by Mark Dabbs.

Nine machines capable of churning out fake discs were found tucked inside an alcove masked by a message board, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

More than 20,000 illegal discs including games for consoles including the Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation, films and pornography were found at the premises. Printed inlays and covers for cases to disguise the fake games and films were also unearthed by officers at the shop in High Street.

Trading Standards officers have estimated the loss to the industry and copyright holders as more than £500,000.

Dabbs, of Turner's Grove, Lower Gornal, Dudley, pleaded guilty to 44 charges of possessing goods with a false trademark for sale or hire at a previous hearing.

Judge Michael Dudley said Dabbs, aged 44, had created a "counterfeiting factory" at the premises, adding: "Conservative estimates put the retail value of the counterfeit materials seen at more than £500,000. It has to be a prison sentence to discourage others."

He added: "Some of the items were concealed behind hidden doors. You claimed that you had been making discs for friends and family but that does not wash with me."

Dabbs was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment to be served concurrently on all 44 charges. Judge Dudley also ordered the destruction of all the counterfeit discs and equipment.

Mr Mark Jackson, prosecuting on behalf of Dudley Council, said Dabbs had masterminded a "sophisticated and professional" counterfeiting trade.

"The operation was well organised and it was a commercially-minded venture which traded out of what appeared to be a legitimate business," he said.

He added that Dabbs had been trading at the Brierley Hill store for around eight years when Trading Standards officers swooped on the premises in December 2008.

A large number of CDs and carry cases were stashed inside two large cupboards, the court heard. There were also discs with multiple games or films on, which could have cost copyright holders up to £300 each in lost earnings, added Mr Jackson.

Miss Nicole Steers, defending, said Dabbs realised he has "stepped out of line" and had pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity.