Operation Rabbits
Whilst not actually being in 2008, this confiscation investigation deserves mention as this was one of the first confiscation orders of its kind obtained by the Trading Standards Service under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 legislation.
As a result of an investigation undertaken by North Yorkshire County Council Trading Standards, the defendant, Jonathan Mills admitted offering counterfeit movie DVDs for sale in contravention of the Copyright. Designs and Patents Act 1988 and was fined £300 by the court and ordered to pay costs in excess of £4000.
As a result of the NE RART working in partnership with the North Yorkshire Trading Standards, a successful conclusion was reached when Mills was ordered to pay back £115,000 at the confiscation hearing on 31 August 2007.
Our colleagues from the Confiscation Unit of HM Court Services report that Mills has paid the £115,000 in full.