Video pirate jailed

A video pirate has been jailed for two years after admitting a raft of charges involving the theft of copyright.

John Houston, 42, of South Auckland, was also ordered to pay $5000 in reparations to the Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact) but was given approval to apply for home detention.

Houston appeared before Judge David Harvey for sentencing in Manakau District today.

After the sentencing Fact spokesman Tony Eaton said Houston had sold thousands of pirated videos and was thought to have made $150,000 a year for the last five years.

Judge Harvey said if Houston was released on home detention he would face numerous restrictions and would be banned from owning or using a computer, or equipment used to copy DVDs or videos.

- NZPA