A MAN who produced thousands of counterfeit compact discs and videos said most of them were for his own use, Newton Aycliffe magistrates heard yesterday.

Kevin Bowes, 33, of Salisbury Terrace, Darlington, admitted seven specimen charges of fraudulently use of trademarks and asked for 43 other offences to be considered.

Andrea Catterick, prosecuting for Darlington Borough Council, said trading standards officers had been tipped off that Bowes was producing counterfeit CDs.

They carried out a raid in Mallory Court and found thousands of CDs, videos, computer equipment, scanners, printers and other equipment used to produced CDs and videos.

Bowes said he was living at his brother's house in Westmoreland Street, Darlington. That address was also searched and more copied videos and CDs were found with copied trademarks.

The court heard Bowes had worked in a electronics factory where he started to copy CDs and videos to build his own collection, but then started copying items for payment.

It was stressed that he had not made a lot of money from the venture and he had never advertised for customers.

The case was adjourned until January 13 for reports.