The man behind Britain's biggest-ever domestic pirate CD and DVD racket was jailed for 38 months yesterday, John Croy, 61, was branded the Mr Big of counterfeiters after he was caught with almost £400,000 worth of dodgy discs, reports Scottish newspaper Daily Record.

The disabled ex-Navy technician's former council house was at the heart of a massive operation. Police officers spent 11 hours in the flat removing thousands of fake music and computer CDs, DVDs and hi-tech copying equipment.

Police believes it is the largest-ever domestic counterfeiting factory found in the UK." Data storage devices found totaled 4.4 terabtes. The wholesale value of the illegal discs seized was estimated at nearly £222,000, and that of the MP3 files found on the computers at £156,000.

Sheriff Bill Dunlop sentenced Croy to 38 months in jail after taking into account his ill health and the fact Croy admitted his guilt.

A spokesman for the British Phonographic Industry said it was the biggest set-up they had ever seen in a house.
Croy had been chairman of his residents' association and had no previous convictions before his "spectacular fall from grace."

Story filed 24.07.08