Small Pirate Fishes Caught By ELSPA

Two merchants from Scunthorpe have been jailed following their conviction for running the largest copying operation ever seen in North Lincolnshire.

Forhad Miah (35) and his brother Ajad Miah (31) were sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court on 3rd February after their shop, AJ Computers and home address was raided by North Lincolnshire Trading Standards officers and local police.

During the 2003 raid, more than 13,000 items were seized including pirate videotapes, CDs and DVDs. The pair had been obtaining legitimate copies of games and films, which they copied and sold on to customers visiting the shop and also by email.

"We are pleased with the cessation of this major counterfeiting operation, which not only caused loss to the games, music and film industries, but also had a detrimental effect on local retailers," said ELSPA deputy director general Michael Rawlinson. "ELSPA would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and we hope the sentences handed out will act as a strong deterrent to other would-be pirates."

The pair was charged with conspiracy to produce counterfeit product. Forhad Miah, who had a previous conviction for possession of unclassified videos, was ordered to serve 15 months. Ajad Miah, who had no previous convictions, was ordered to serve nine.

The judge awarded two Trading Standards officers - Julie Davey and Andy Woad - a rarely-received Judge's Commendation for their involvement in the operation.

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