A COMPUTER games counterfeiter will face a fresh court hearing after a judge said he disagreed with his claim that the items were sold largely to family and friends.

John Swinhoe admitted 14 copyright and trademark offences relating to the sale of pirate X-Box software, DVDs and music.

Teesside Crown Court heard how three transit vans were required to transport hundreds of copied games and DVDs, along with computer equipment and other related paraphernalia, seized from Swinhoe's home in Lanchester Avenue, Billingham, on December 18 2012.

Prosecutor Richard Bennett described how items were sold from behind the counter of a fishing tackle shop, near York, which was visited by a trading standards officer who made a number of "test" purchases.

He also said Swinhoe provided a service allowing X-Box consoles to be 'flashed' so pirated games could be played on them.

Meanwhile, a bedroom in Swinhoe’s home had been converted into an office in order to co-ordinate what Mr Bennett said was a “large scale, clearly commercial” operation.

Jo Pasfield, mitigating, said the defendant had pleaded on the basis that he was “supplying family and friends” and anyone who was referred through them to him. She also said he was not running the venture as a business and made very little money out of it.

However, The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Simon Bourne-Arton said he didn’t accept that, given the amount of material seized and he wasn’t prepared to sentence Swinhoe on that basis.

He said: “These are skilful counterfeits. He has got all the equipment necessary to carry out this business on a professional basis.”

The judge declared that a so-called Newton hearing, which will consider all of the evidence, be held and also deferred the planned forfeiture of the items seized until the matter was settled.

Swinhoe, 47, was given unconditional bail to return to court on a date to be fixed.