Father sold fake films on internet

4:17pm Wednesday 6th September 2006

A RECLUSE made more than £8,000 in eight months by selling fake DVDs on internet auction site, eBay.

Brian Cowburn, aged 44, started by copying the occasional Disney film for his six-year-old son.

But things spiralled out of control when his partner left him, taking their son with her, Bolton Magistrates' Court heard.

Cowburn turned to alcohol and became a recluse, copying DVDs on his personal computers and running a mini counterfeit empire from his home in Park Road, Westhoughton.

Catherine Marland, prosecuting, said police and trading standards officers raided the house on July 19, 2005, and found two personal computers, a DVD copying machine and DVD laminator, used to box-up the fakes.

Cowburn confessed to trading his pirate films, mainly Disney titles, on eBay. Included in the 139 DVDs sent for examination by trading standards officers were six copies of the film Spiderman and 13 of the animated feature The Incredibles. All were found to be fake.

There were also numerous films found on the computers' hard drives and software for making pictures for the DVD covers.

Miss Marland said Cowburn had made £8,376 between November 2004 and July 2005, selling 1,241 DVDs on Ebay.

Anthony Shimmin, defending, said Cowburn was a law abiding man, too proud to claim benefits, who fell on hard times when his relationship broke down and he lost custody of his son. Cowburn began trading in fake goods to support himself.

Mr Shimmin said: "He turned to drink, sold his house and got into debt. His alcohol problem turned him into a reclusive man and this was all he did. What started off as copying DVDs for his six-year-old son turned into a mini-business."

But Mr Shimmin said Cowburn had now stopped drinking, had found a job and was seeing his son again.

Cowburn, who pleaded guilty to 40 trade mark and copyright offences, was sentenced to four months in custody to be suspended for two years and ordered to do 100 hours of community service with 12 months supervision.

Chairman of the bench Nat Biney also ordered him to pay costs of £1,200, adding: "This matter is very serious indeed."