Scottish Pirate Gets Record Sentence

A man who ran a fake CD and DVD 'factory' in his home has been given the longest sentence for counterfeiting in Scotland. Ian McNaughton, 44, who tried to flood the Christmas market with £120,000 of fake goods, was jailed for 20 months.

He was churning out thousands of CDs and DVDs in a bid to pay off mounting gambling debts.

Titles included Men In Black 2, Moulin Rouge and Die Another Day on DVD and The Invisible Band by Travis and Reveal by R.E.M. on CD.

He was caught when police and trading standards officers raided his home in December, 2002.

At Airdrie Sheriff Court McNaughton, of the town's Drumclair Place, admitted three charges of counterfeiting and breaching the trade marks act.

He also admitted breaching copyright laws, by carrying out the operation without a licence.

Sheriff Alfred Vannet said: 'These are serious offences at the highest end of the scale and the most serious that I or any of my fellow sheriffs within this court have ever come across.

'You turned your family home into a factory to produce fake CDs and DVDs.

'You had major debts but it was your decision and your responsibility as to what happened within your own home.'

David Taylor, defending, said: 'He was in despair at the debt he owed. He was expecting trading standards officers to arrive and when they did, it was a relief.'

Story source: dailyrecord.co.uk.