It’s Christmas behind bars for a conman convicted of selling fake computer software and console games in Wigan after one of the biggest investigations into software piracy by Wigan Council Trading Standards.
Wolverhampton based Steve Adams, 38, lived in luxury at the centre of an empire based on the profits of illegal copies of the latest games and films. Adams was a feature at computer fairs around the country, including Wigan Computer Fair at Robin Park, where he traded as ‘Midland Console Modifications’. He is reported to have had £627,000 in his accounts and have cost the industry over £900,000.
Wigan Council’s chief trading standards officer Julie Middlehurst is pleased at the outcome of the court’s decision. She says:
“Adams and his accomplices have been ripping off locals with chipped consoles and fake software. We interviewed them both and the offences in Wigan formed part of the case.”
The court heard of the profits of Adams’s crimes, which included:
- apartment in Spain
- Ranger Rover with £6500 personalised plates
- £14,600 Rolex watch
- £6000 weight loss surgery, shrinking him from 22 stone to under 13
- breast enlargement surgery for his girlfriend Julie Frendo
- running a disc copying factory from a Midlands industrial estate
On January 16, in a joint operation with Greater Manchester Police, Adams and his partner in crime Greg Gartside, 31, who now lives in Chorley, were arrested at Wigan computer fair. Trading Standards seized more than 2,700 counterfeit discs along with equipment used for chipping consoles so that copied games can be played. At the same time, police and trading standards in Wolverhampton raided Adams’ home.
The large scale, multi-site operation also saw Wigan Council’s Trading Standards team involved in searching Gartside’s house in Leyland with the police, seizing more discs.
Adams was jailed for three years, including 12 months for offending on bail. His girlfriend Frendo received a 12 months suspended sentence, 150 hours of community service and £5,300 in costs. Gartside received a 12 month community punishment order, 120 hours of community service and £4700 in costs.
Julie Middlehurst adds:
“Counterfeiting damages the economy, threatens jobs and, for the consumer, can mean discs filled with viruses crashing your computer.
What Adams did is a serious crime. We’re working to combat illegal sales and have launched a local advertising campaign as well as contacting local businesses – please say no to dodgy discs.”
