Copyright thieves have been warned they are being targeted after a couple were convicted of running a "sophisticated" counter-feiting business worth at least £40,000.

Copyright thieves have been warned they are being targeted after a couple were convicted of running a "sophisticated" counter-feiting business worth at least £40,000.

Police raided the home of Keith Barber, 52, and Karen Barber, 43, in Carlton Colville, near Lowestoft, last October and seized more than 300 fake CD albums and computer reproduction equipment.

Detectives also recovered a quantity of DVDs illegally bearing the trademarks of some of the biggest names in the film industry.

Yesterday, the Barbers, of Rounces Lane, both pleaded guilty at Lowestoft Magis-trates' Court to seven charges of possession of goods with false trademarks for sale or hire. They will be sentenced at a later hearing at Ipswich Crown Court.

Corinne Gook-Hurren, prosecuting, said: "They were producing DVDs and CDs for distribution from car boot sales and posted out to customers.

"During interviews they admitted they produced the discs for sale at car boot sales and for their families, but brown Jiffy bags were also found with addresses and prices attached to them."

The court heard original artwork and sales posters were also reproduced to help bring in illegal sales.

"Experts confirmed that copyright and trademark laws had been breached. The retail value of the music discs alone amounted to £40,000," said Mrs Gook-Hurren.

"The film discs also had the labels from the British Board of Film Classification, which were quite sophisticated to produce."

The Barbers said they were not legally represented due to a delay in receiving legal aid.

Acting Detective Inspector Angus Moir, of Lowestoft CID, said: "This is a successful conclusion to a joint operation between Lowestoft Police, Suffolk Trading Standards and the Federation Against Copyright Theft."