A BLAENAVON man who ran a pornography and software piracy business worth hundreds of thousands of pounds from his home is today starting a three-and-a-half-year jail term.

John Lamb, 45, of Griffiths Court, was said to have had stolen software in his possession worth more than $1 million US dollars.

Cardiff crown court heard yesterday that Lamb was copying and selling CDs, computer software, applications, games and cinema films. He also sold pornography so hard-core not even sex shops were licensed to sell it.

Lamb, who traded over the internet, had a sales list that at times ran to more than 1,400 pages.

The court was also told Lamb never made any effort to check the age of customers who were ordering pornographic material.

Lamb pleaded guilty to 27 charges involving the unauthorised use of a registered trademark and possessing a video recording of an unclassified work for supply.

He asked for a further 35 offences of the unauthorised use of a registered trademark to be taken into consideration.

Torfaen council, which had Lamb under surveillance for two years, brought the prosecution.

Leighton Hughes, prosecuting, said Lamb ran an "active and thriving business" and supplied around the world.

A search of his home revealed Lamb was operating a "highly efficient electronic warehouse" containing sophisticated computers. Officers recovered thousands of blank CDs and DVDs ready to receive counterfeit copies.

Mr Hughes said counterfeiting and piracy was estimated to cost legitimate business in the UK £8.5 billion each year.

At one point during the investigation, an administrative error by Gwent police meant Lamb could only be prosecuted by the issue of summonses.

For 15 months he went on the run and continued organising his business.

He was eventually arrested at a delivery address in Bridgend. Hillary Roberts, defending, said Lamb was co-operative with police and made only a few hundred pounds a week from his business.

Jailing Lamb, Judge David Wynn Morgan said: "The operation was your method of making your living for a long time. "The true scale of the operation will never be known."