£100k fake DVD fraudster's jail term 'a message' to others

Paul Foster was sentenced to 16 months behind bars after pleading guilty to one charge of participating in fraudulent business and nine counts of possessing goods with a false trademark for sale or hire.

The 51-year-old was caught after purchasing fake copies of smash hit TV series from China and importing them to his Penkridge home.

But Council bosses have greeted the news, claiming such a sentencing sends a clear message out to all fraudsters.

Gill Heath, Staffordshire County Council's trading standards leader, said: "This sentence sends out a strong message that dealing in counterfeit goods is a serious crime. This person knowingly sold illegal goods and ripped people off, which is completely unacceptable."

Foster had previously headed his legitimate film-selling business for 14 years before entering the black market of piracy in 2014. Judge Mark Eades said in court Foster had shown serious levels of deceit as well as going into the operation with his 'eyes wide open with greed'.

Councillor Heath added: "We would like to remind people counterfeiting is not a harmless crime – it has a detrimental impact on legitimate businesses and more often than not funds organised criminal gangs.

"We will continue to do all we can to protect Staffordshire people and businesses from the counterfeit goods trade."

An ebay account linked to Foster's company website displayed angry reactions from devastated consumers over the previous 12 months. Several users of the online bidding site were disappointed with the quality of the sale – with some even claiming they believed the film to be bogus.

"New dvd? Its a copy... Absoloute rip off... DO NOT BUY!" one furious user stated.

Foster was said to have recorded ebay sales totalling £60,000. A further £40,000 were uncovered when Staffordshire Trading Standards searched his Walhouse Drive property last January where 1,816 boxsets were uncovered