Ayr counterfeiter John Hamilton was caught red-handed by trading standards officers selling DVDs and computer games over the internet. Hamilton, 43, of Caledonia Road, Ayr was snared by trading standards officers after they were tipped off about his illegal on-line activities.

He appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court last week and was sentenced to 125 hours community service.

Hamilton was prosecuted after being caught in his home with over 800 discs containing fake X-box and Playstation  games as well as hundreds of copied films and TV programmes.

He was caught despite using his mother-in-law's sheltered housing address in Ayr for 'returns' and an anonymous email account.

The fraudster was unaware that his 'buyer' was an internet investigator from ELSPA (The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publisher's Association).

A South Ayrshire Trading Standards spokesperson: "This case is part of an ongoing clampdown on those who sell counterfeit goods.

"Whether directly through markets and street trading, or even on-line from the comfort of their own PC, we will investigate and prosecute those who sell fakes. This case also shows that those who believe that they can use the internet to freely download and sell illegal films and games should think again.

"Officers from Strathclyde Police or trading standards can search homes and take away a persons stock and their PC.

"South Ayrshire trading standards ofifcers in conjunction with our colleagues in East and North Ayrshire Councils, launched the Fake Free Ayrshire Campaign' to co-ordinate action against those who sell fake goods in Ayrshire communities and beyond.

"We will target anyone who cheats consumers and harms legitimate businesses in Ayrshire.

With previous convictions for similar offences, Hamilton was exposed after selling copied games to an undercover investigator in an internet forum.

Investigations into on-line accounts led trading standards straight to Hamilton's door for the second time in less than three years.

Their officers and a representative from ELSPA assisted police as they searched Hamilton's home and garden shed. Fake stock, two PCs with various discs burning software, spools of by blank DVDs and boxes of padded envelopes were discovered there.

May 2007