A PROLIFIC bootlegger narrowly avoided jail after being caught with 471 dodgy DVDs at Pitsea market.

Andrew Evans, 38, had already been caught selling counterfeit films in south Essex four times when he was picked up by undercover trading standards officers in May last year.

The court heard he had been selling the films for extra cash after losing his business during a divorce.

He was sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for 12 months, disqualified from driving for three months and ordered to pay £1,960 compensation when he appeared at Basildon Magistrates’ Court.

Richard Power, prosecuting, told the court officers were at Pitsea Market when they spotted Evans selling copies of a 2013 film called Zulu.

He said: “Officers recognised him as someone they had dealt with before.

“Mr Evans was observed for ten minutes then an officer made a test purchase of one of the films for £2.”

The film had been burned on to a recordable DVD and did not have any labels on it. The officers identified themselves to Evans and he told them he had more stock in the back of his car.

Officers seized 471 discs.

Evans told the officers he had been working with two other men.

However Power told the court officers had not seen anyone else at the stall.

The court heard the incident was the fifth time Evans, a trainee drywaller, had been caught with pirate DVDs.

He was caught selling films at Sadlers Farm boot sale in 2011, at the Carpenters Arms in 2012, Vange boot sale in 2013 and again at Carpenters Arms in 2014.

The court heard the 471 DVDs represented a loss to the film industry of £2,921.

Evans admitted six counts of possession of goods with a false trade mark for sale or hire at an earlier hearing.

He was also ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge.