Glen Smith

Twisted Glen Smith, 38, was arrested after he was found flogging counterfeit CDs and DVDs at Cuffley car boot sale in August 2009.

Officers from the Hatfield safer neighbourhood team subsequently confiscated more than 9,700 imitation disks, including some featuring bestiality, after scouring his Essex home.

The CDs and DVDs that were impounded were thought to be worth up to £250,000.

The investigation into Smith’s business, which is thought to have cost the music industry millions of pounds, was led by Hatfield officers Sgt Malcolm Dey and Pc Ross Freeman.

Sgt Dey said the pornographic films were both “distressing” and “disturbing” and added they contained the most “depraved” and “obscene” acts he’d witnessed in his 14 years as a police officer.

“The acts were degrading and humiliating to both people and animals,” he said. “If this content was viewed by the general public, it would undoubtedly cause distress and trauma.

“It was apparent that the animals were physically abused and there is also the impact on the ‘actors’; none have been identified and are believed not to be from the UK.”

He added: “It’s reassuring to know that anyone – including young people – will not be able to buy these DVDs.

“It is illegal to just own a copy of a fake DVD so remember – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!”

Smith, of Cranston Gardens, Chingford, was jailed for two-and-a-half years after appearing at St Albans Crown Court on Friday.

He pleaded guilty to 22 charges of selling counterfeit CDs and DVDs and possession of extreme pornography.

Smith was given two years for selling counterfeit CDs and DVDs and six months for each of the 16 animal porn charges, to run concurrently.

It also emerged during the hearing that he had previous convictions for selling phoney disks.

Sgt Dey added: “We are thrilled with Smith’s significant sentence which shows how this type of crime is viewed by the courts.”