Shifnal councillor is spared jail for £80,000 poster scam
A town councillor was today spared prison despite making more than £80,000 selling fake posters for blockbuster Hollywood films including Star Wars, Die Hard and The Dark Knight Rises.
Mark Mountford, a member of Shifnal Town Council who held onto his Idsall seat in the local elections, was ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work when he appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court today for sentencing.
The 46-year-old admitted 13 charges connected with the business he ran from home between February and May last year.
An investigation discovered a collection of fake film posters as well as equipment for producing logos belonging to major film studios including Paramount Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Bros.
Speaking after his sentence today, Mountford said he was looking forward to carrying on working for the council.
He said: "I am relieved at the sentence. I am pleased to carry on with my council work and look forward to the future."
Mountford, of Maple Close, Shifnal, also admitted possessing goods with a view to selling them in connection with posters for films from a range of popular films.
Mr Kevin Saunders, prosecuting, said Mountford was in charge of a sophisticated operation.
He told the court Mountford had made £83,698 from the business in a little less than two years.
Mr Adrian Roberts, for Mountford, said his client had a "previous good character" and did not realise what he was doing was "unlawful".
