A MAN from Worcester has been given a suspended prison sentence for selling electronic chips which allow consoles to play counterfeit games.

Worcestershire County Council's trading standards team successfully prosecuted Christopher Gilham, of St Paul's Street, in a landmark case which has helped clarify copyright law.

The 46-year-old built up a substantial business illegally selling modchips and console peripherals from his home address, which were offered for sale on his website baldbouncer.co.uk.

The team started investigations following a tip off from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association - ELPSA - in September 2005.

Trading standards officers then covertly purchased a number of items for examination by computer consultants.

An entry warrant was then executed during which computers and large quantities of stock were seized for further examination.

They discovered a quantity of 'modchips' which are specifically designed for installation into Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft games consoles to override the inbuilt security measures.

Gilham pleaded not guilty but was was convicted on 15 counts under the Copyright Designs and Patents Act and the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Due to the interpretation of the copyright legislation, Gilham appealed the decision and the case was heard at the Court of Appeal last October, where the judges found in favour of the prosecution.

The case was sent back to Worcester Crown Court for sentencing and Gilham was given a twelve month custodial sentence suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 300 hours unpaid work.

Simon Wilkes, Worcestershire trading standards operation manager, said: "This has been a very important case, not only for Worcestershire County Council, but also for other local authorities in the UK who have been awaiting its result. It now opens the way for many more similar cases to go ahead.

"Counterfeit games can only be played on consoles that have been modified with such 'chips' and this result will go some way to reducing the demand for such illegal products. We are pleased with the court's ruling and the penalty imposed."