A POLICE crackdown on the sale of counterfeit CDs and DVDs in Hull led to 26 arrests in five months.

This figure came to light after a man appeared at Hull Crown Court to be sentenced for the sale and distribution of counterfeit goods at a Hull market.

Paul Richard Thornhill, 36, was arrested at Walton Street market on Sunday, March 9, when more than 4,000 counterfeit CDs, DVDs and gaming disks were seized from his stall and van.

He had £3,000 in cash on him at the time.

The court heard the film, music and game industries suffered an estimated loss of more than £174,000 because of his counterfeiting operations.

Following his arrest, police officers searched Thornhill's home in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, where they found more fake discs.

These were seized along with £800 hidden in his cooker hood and copying equipment that was discovered in an outbuilding.

A further £2,000 was found stashed in a safe at his mother-in-law's house, the court heard.

Thornhill had earlier pleaded guilty to four counts relating to the making, possession, sale and distribution of counterfeit CDs and DVDs.

Prosecutor Patrick Palmer said: "The prosecution would say it is plain from the equipment seized from the outbuilding at the defendant's home that he has been counterfeiting such items since November 2005 at the latest.

"He was also found to have £3,000 cash on him at the market stall and £800 cash hidden in his cooker hood.

"He denied he had any stored anywhere else, but had a safe at his mother-in-law's house that had £2,000 cash in."

The court heard that, when interviewed, Thornhill said the cash had come from his job with a bus company, from which he earned £350 a week, and a motorcycle renovation business that he did on the side.

He had claimed that, with regard to the counterfeit goods, he was working for a man called "John" and had only been doing so for three months, making a profit of just £70 a week.

Mr Palmer said the prosecution did not find this explanation "fitting".

Mark Bury, for the defence, pointed out the monetary "loss" to the industry was an approximate figure and assumed CDs were sold at their full price, and that this did not reflect the profit made by Mr Thornhill.

Sentencing was adjourned for further reports.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Sergeant Mike Reed, of Humberside Police CID, said the sale and distribution of counterfeit CDS, DVDs and games was a big problem and that the force was working to bring people involved with counterfeit goods to justice.

He said: "It is a serious problem. When we started investigations last November we found some people were making £3,000 to £4,000 a day on weekends.

"Between November 2007 and April 2008, we arrested 26 people. On one occasion, on November 11, we found a van with a safe containing £3,000."