A Workington man was ordered to repay over £59,000 and ordered to pay £7,500 prosecution costs by Judge Batty at Carlisle Crown Court today. £59,625 was the amount calculated as being the proceeds made by Peter Rumney from his counterfeiting operation.
Rumney, 39, of Corporation Road, Workington, was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 2 years, at Carlisle Crown Court on 13/10/05 for what Judge Batty described as “a serious course of criminal conduct”. He pleaded guilty to offences contrary to the Trade Marks Act 1994, Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 and Video Recordings Act 1984. Peter Rumney was involved in copying and selling films, music, computer games and porn between August 2002 and June 2004 when police and trading standards officers raided his house and seized over 3000 copied disks.
The financial investigation into Rumney’s affairs was carried out by the Assets Recovery Agency.
Jane Earl, Director of the Assets Recovery Agency, said:
"This is an excellent result for the Assets Recovery Agency and the county council's Trading Standards department, with whom we having been working on this case. People who counterfeit should be aware that we will collaborate with other agencies to ensure they do not benefit from their crime."
Phil Ashcroft, Head of Cumbria Trading Standards said
“This is the first time that we have worked with the Assets Recovery Agency. It won’t be the last. This result sends a clear message to all counterfeiters that crime does not pay. The investigation was assisted by an anonymous tip-off and I would urge members of the public to report persons they believe to be copying on a large scale. I am grateful to the police for their invaluable assistance”.
John Hillier, Anti-Piracy Manager at ELSPA said
“This result will act as a deterrent to others considering copying games, films and music”.