A BRIERLEY Hill businessman who pocketed nearly £70,000 selling counterfeit DVDs over the internet has been ordered to pay back every penny of his ill-gotten gains.

Simon Newby was previously jailed for 16 months after admitting 14 charges relating to breaches of registered trademarks.

But he was warned he would have to spend another two years behind bars if he failed to come up with the money in three months.

Newby's criminal conduct bagged him £69,521, Mark Jackson, prosecuting for Dudley Council told Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Following an investigation, it was revealed the 33-year-old's available assets amounted to £69,521 and Recorder Nigel Baker QC made a compensation order in that amount.

The court had been told it had been expected the Proceeds of Crime Hearing against Newby, of Bickon Drive, Quarry Bank was to be contested.

But Mr Jackson said that after full discussions the figure for the compensation order had been agreed with the legal representatives of Newby, who was a director of Sinew Enterprises Ltd, in Dudley Road, Brierley Hill.

The recorder told the court: “It is always good news when the parties in cases like this come to a settlement.”

The court had been told at an earlier hearing that raids were carried out by Dudley Trading Standards at the business and home of Newby.

He had originally set up a business selling car cleaning chemicals but the profits from selling the DVDs had become so great they overtook the legitimate business.

During the raids, council officials seized burning towers, computers, printers and 1,800 counterfeit DVDs and the court heard Newby had used false names when setting up websites and accounts.