Police keelhaul world's thickest DVD pirate

'Psst, officer, wanna buy some movies?'

By Lester Haines • Get more from this author

Posted in Bootnotes, 8th July 2004 09:44 GMT

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An Essex man has secured the title of the world's thickest DVD pirate after walking into a Chelmsford Trading Standards office and offering his illicit wares to the gobsmacked staff.

The master criminal apparently didn't notice the sign above the door before making his pitch. Trading Standards' officers very naturally expressed a keen interest in the bootlegged movies, at which point the man belatedly realised his error and legged it. He did, however, leave a memento of his visit - his stash of films and £210 in cash.

Happily, the fugitive was later reunited with his would-be customers after police slapped the cuffs on him in a local supermarket.

Peter Martin, Essex County Council's Trading Standards supremo, said: "It would be great if all pushers of counterfeit goods would come to our offices to try and sell their wares. It would make the life of our dedicated team a great deal easier."

Martin also made a prediction that "this incident will become part of Trading Standards folklore". Yup, we reckon that's pretty well a certainty. ®