AN Otley man has been jailed for running a counterfeiting factory from his home.

Thomas Reilly, 53, of The Oval, was jailed for 12 months on Friday following an investigation involving the police, trading standards officers and the music industry.

Leeds Crown Court heard that more than 3,500 counterfeit music CDs, DVDs, videos and computer games with an estimated street value of £132,000 were recovered from Reilly's home and from a farm building in Bramhope.

Investigators from the British Phonographic Institute had already bought a counterfeit CD from Reilly at a car boot sale at Harrogate Road, Yeadon.

During the search of his home, officers found a room being used as a 'counterfeiting factory'. It contained computer equipment and compact discs in various stages of production as well as a large number of counterfeit goods and a catalogue of items for sale.

Reilly admitted one charge of offering a music disc for sale and 11 charges of making articles infringing copyright.

In addition to the 12 month sentence a confiscation order was imposed.

PC Heidi Beardsmore of the Otley Community Policing Team, said: "We are extremely pleased with the court result.

"We are committed to working with other agencies to clamp down on the manufacture and supply of counterfeit goods. Hopefully, this will send out a strong message to others involved in such activities that we will take strong action against those who do offend."

Martin Wood, chief officer of West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service, said: "It is important that criminals trading in counterfeit goods are shown that we will not tolerate their actions in West Yorkshire."

David Martin, director of the Anti-Piracy Unit for the British Phonographic Industry, added: "Music piracy is a very serious problem, not only affecting record companies and artists, but also local retailers who are fighting for their survival and who are unable to compete with counterfeit dealers who of course have no overheads."