Ex-superintendent sentenced for CD fraud

Karl and John Stewart were given suspended sentences

A retired West Yorkshire police superintendent has escaped prison after being found guilty of manufacturing counterfeit CDs.

John Stewart, 53, was given a suspended sentence along with his son Karl, and a third man involved in the operation, Gurdeep Singh Sanby.

Leeds Crown Court heard the men made more than £54,000 from the fake goods, at an estimated loss of nearly £130,000 in revenue to the music industry.

John Stewart, of Allerton Bywater, had been found guilty at an earlier hearing of two counts of conspiracy to defraud by producing pirate music and Playstation CDs.

You acted as a parasite on a legal and legitimate industry, exploiting their productivity and marketing by making cheap copies.

Judge James Barry

The former superintendent had retired from West Yorkshire Police in August 1998 where he had been in charge of the discipline and complaints department.

Shortly after leaving the force he set up a car boot sale with his son in the Cross Green area of the city, selling counterfeit goods.

On Monday he was given a 16-month sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay £20,000 towards prosecution costs.

Judge James Barry said: "You acted as a parasite on a legal and legitimate industry, exploiting their productivity and marketing by making cheap copies.

"You deprived an important industry where thousands depend for their livelihood and I cannot believe that that was not clear to such a high ranking police officer."

His son, Karl, 30, of Knottingley, who admitted two counts of conspiracy to defraud, was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years.

Sanby, 24, of Moor Allerton, admitted one charge of conspiracy to defraud, and received a four-month sentence, also suspended for two years.