HUNDREDS of counterfeit CDs and DVDs were recovered in a house raid, a court has heard.

More than two years after the seizure by police and trading standards officers at the home of businessman Alexander Lloyd Levington, he admitted charges arising from examination of the haul, at Durham Crown Court yesterday.

Levington, 33, of Hawthorn Crescent, Gilesgate, Durham, pleaded guilty to two counts relating to the unauthorised use of a trademark, on dates between January 1, 2004, and January 30, 2005.

The trademarks said to have been used without permission were 20th Century Fox Film Corporation and Sony.

Levington also admitted applying a false trade description, specifically Disney and Sega Enterprises.

Ros Scott Bell, prosecuting on behalf of Durham County Council's trading standards department, said: "This case has some history, relating to DVDs and CDs seized on January 27, 2005.

"The council was made aware that these pleas were to be put forward by the defendant and has considered the situation.

"Although the council does not strictly accept the full basis, the pleas, are, however, now considered to be acceptable to the prosecution.

"He claims he never actually sold the discs. However, there were numerous copied discs in his possession, but there was no evidence he was at a car boot sale selling them.

"His computer was seized to see if he was selling discs on (auction website) e-bay, but the council can't say if any were counterfeit.

"He says he bought discs, copied them and then sold the originals."

Sentence was adjourned by Judge Peter Bowers, pending reports by the probation service.

Bailing him to return for sentence on March 23, Judge Bowers told him: "I make it clear I'm giving no indications as to what is going to happen.

"It's up to the judge on that day as to how he regards it."