Trading standards officers recovered 2,476 discs at an address linked to David Anthony Masih, who sold them for £1 or £2 each
David Anthony Masih
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A taxi driver is waiting to learn his fate after being caught with thousands of counterfeit DVDs and CDs.
David Anthony Masih, 49, was found to have dodgy discs in the boot of his taxi. Many more, including porn, were later found at a Middlesbrough address linked to him.
Teesside Magistrates’ Court was told how cases containing CDs and DVDs were seized from the boot of a hackney carriage in June 2012.
An investigation was launched by Middlesbrough Council's trading standards department and a sample selection of discs were sent to the British Recorded Music Industry (BPI) for examination.
Liam O’Brien, for Middlesbrough Council, said the BPI investigator concluded that all of the discs were infringing copies of copyright works.
They included reggae, dance and R&B CDs. Films included Treasure Buddies, Cars, Jimmy Grimble, The Incredibles and Rise of Planet of the Apes.
The court heard how a search warrant was executed at an address in Kildwick Grove, Park End, Middlesbrough in August 2012.
Trading standards officers found cases containing a large number of discs.
In total, 2,476 discs were recovered. Of these, 11 contained pornographic material.
Masih, who gave his address in court as Stamford Street, Middlesbrough, was due to go on trial at Teesside Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
But on the day of trial he pleaded guilty to 13 offences including possessing goods with a false trademark for sale or hire and possessing an article which infringed copyright.
Dominic Tate, representing Masih, told the court that it was “a crude ad-hoc operation” and the discs were not particularly high quality.
He said Masih would sell them for £1 or £2 each normally to family members but also to members of the public, sometimes at car boot sales.
Mr Tate said there was no evidence of large quantities of cash being made. He was just trying to make some extra money, the court was told.
Magistrates told Masih they wanted a pre-sentence report before considering what to do with him. His case was adjourned until February 18 and he was granted bail.
After the case Councillor Charlie Rooney, Executive Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “This prosecution sends out a strong message to anyone involved in these illegal businesses.
“Trading on the reputation of large companies without making any contribution to production and distribution costs, or to the public purse, is unacceptable. We will continue to take action when they are brought to our attention.”
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