A MAN who made more than £17,000 selling fake DVDs has been told he will go to jail if he fails to pay back the cash.

Michael Perangie, of Warren Close, Hay-on-Wye, made thousands of pounds selling fake DVDs and cosmetics over the internet between February and December 2009.

Trading Standards officers found 14,000 items worth a further £30,000 when they raided his home and Orbiting Books on Hereford ‘s Rotherwas Industrial Estate where he worked at the time.

One of the biggest counterfeit operations Herefordshire has ever seen ended at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court last week when Orbiting Books and 45-year-old Perangie were sentenced for their parts in running a fraudulent business.

Perangie was handed a 24-week prison sentence suspended for two years and given six months to pay back £9,000 of the money he made or face 15 weeks in prison.

Orbiting Books, based on the Rotherwas Industrial Estate, Hereford, was fined £4,500 after pleading guilty to nine charges under the Trademark Act.

The company was also ordered to pay £13,000 court costs and given six months to pay back £32,000 it made through the fraudulent crime.

  • Anyone who suspects fake goods are being sold is asked to call their local trading standards office or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.