Man escapes jail for selling obscene videos

[JonnyHungwell]

Just saw this article, I didn't think they still bothered with this rubbish. What a waste of money, police and court time.

The language used by the judge and prosecution is like something from 30 years ago:

Durham Crown Court Judge Michael Cartlidge said: "These videos were at the very most extreme end of pornography. You were involved in what is a really humiliating, degrading, disgusting business."

Police who searched his home on December 6 last year seized more than 2,500 pornographic DVDs and videos of an obscene and disturbing nature


"The videos, which were between 20 minutes and an hour-and-a-half in length, were produced in Germany, Thailand, and Sweden" - only locations that people who know nothing about porn assume it would come from - obviously a spin by some fuckwit reporter.

"Mitigating, Tony Davis said none of the pornographic DVDs distributed featured children" - as if this sort of matierial should!

"Some of his customers when contacted by the police were extremely disappointed that their point of supply had been terminated" - hardly surprising

"He (the judge) said: "I hope this will discourage you from getting into this business again." - take note all you dirty producers out there

What a disgrace that this position can still be taken by authorities in the year 2008, in reference to videos that would be legal in virtually every democratic country in the world.

[JonnyHungwell]

But hatrdly surprising, seeing it's in the far north - they are still 25 years behind in terms of civilisation

[jimslip]

But the point is that this guy was selling films that were not BBFC'd. So while your general point on censorship is true, people like this make a mockery of all the poor saps who go through all the shit and expense of legally selling their films.

[JonnyHungwell]

I know the reason is he was selling uncertified DVD?s - and that is the offence he was tried on I assume - although the article would have you believe he was on trial just because it was porn, full stop.

But the worrying thing is the comments of the judge/police on the contents of the DVD?s - the material being perceived as disgusting, degrading, depraved. Assuming nothing of an illegal nature was found on the DVD?s, the only relevant fact is it was uncertified - and what the judge or police think of it is neither here nor there.

[colonel]

But if they are uncertified, that makes them illegal.

However, the spin from the reporter was sick-making....hypocritical trash.

[one eyed jack]

"the material being perceived as disgusting, degrading, depraved"

Isnt this the hook that sells the product in the first place?

If it was considered nice and normal we'd all be out of a job. i remember it was half the fun of finding a really dirty tape and comparing it to your mate in conversation then some fucker would always ruin it by talking about they saw "Animal Farm" with some guy fucking a chicken to death or some movie with a nun sucking off a donkey (hey man each to their own)

But the fact that it is seen as so wrong adds to the appeal why it turns people on and also why it made a stupid crazy amount of money.

Last I knew disgusting isnt illegal and degrading is down to the two people who consented to do what they did to each other.

I think the rising fuel bills are more disgusting

[jimslip]

I think that this is the natural retort of the Establishment when having to articulate anything to do with porn. Unless they use adjectives, like "Filth, muck, disgusting" and so on, they might be perceived as being "Pro" porn.

I expect this guy suffered more personal insults , than if he'd been a hoody scumbag who'd just stabbed an OAP for her pension.

[eroticartist]

This defendant was obviously a copyright thieve and not a producer and as such should have received at least 18 months in prison. If he were a producer no doubt he would have received a custodial sentence.
Mike Freeman.

[beutelwolf]

eroticartist wrote:

> This defendant was obviously a copyright thieve and not a
> producer and as such should have received at least 18 months in
> prison.

I don't think he got it for that - then the prosecution would probably have to dig up the copyright holders, and I am pretty sure they did not, not in this country.

So, it boils all down to supplying porn without a licence, or does it not? There might also be an issue of tax evasion.

[eroticartist]

He was a pirate and that is why he got a light sentence. Copyright thieves ought to get longer sentences because if a producer like myself dares to sell his own films featuring consenting adults in the UK by mail-order he will get a custodial sentence or a fine designed to put him out of business.
Mike Freeman.