Following the recent operation by Hackney, London, police and local council targeting prolific pirate DVD sellers read story, six defendants were given five month prison sentences, suspended for 2 years, along with 10 year anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs).

ASBOs bar the defendants from entering Hackney Town Centre, banning them from the possession of two or more DVDs and banning them from any selling or offering to sell anything to members of the public.

The judge also gave all six defendants Prohibition Orders lasting 2 years requiring them not to break any of the immigration conditions imposed by the Immigration Service.

Judge Dawson said to the six defendants: “You are being used by gangmasters in the criminal fraternity and were being sent [to the UK] to commit crime…You are people who are being used by criminal people but all of the same you are conducting your own lives here and choose to break the law. Prison is the only appropriate sentence.”

Speaking later he also added, “These are very serious matters. I feel that it is highly likely that you are being used by sophisticated gang criminals in order to fund criminal activity in general.”

All six are Chinese nationals and were identified by the Immigration Service as being in the UK illegally. They all pleaded guilty to offences of film piracy by breach of copyright.

Story filed 18.02.07