THE man behind Britain's largest domestic counterfeit CD and DVD operation has been jailed for 38 months.

John Croy, 61, was dubbed the Mr Big of counterfeiters after being caught with almost £400,000 worth of pirate discs.

The disabled ex-Navy technician's former council house in Helensburgh was at the heart of the massive operation.

Eight police officers and an investigator from the British Phonographic Industry raided his flat three years ago after a tip-off.

They spent 11 hours removing thousands of fake music and computer CDs, DVDs and hi-tech copying equipment.

Croy, a residents' association chairman, had no previous convictions before his "spectacular fall from grace".

At Dumbarton Sheriff Court yesterday, prosecutor Malcolm McLeod, said: "As soon as officers entered the flat, they found MP3 discs in the hallway.

"Investigators found a highly organised, well-resourced repository for the manufacturing of music. They believe it is the largest-ever domestic counterfeiting factory found in the UK."

The data storage on the computers and hard drives in Croy's home was 4.38 terabytes or 4388 gigabytes.

The prosecutor added: "That type of capacity is usually available to run large international companies such as K-mart USA. The wholesale value of the illegal discs seized was £221,959.43.

"The wholesale value of the MP3 files found was £155,703."

Croy, who walks with a stick and has breathing and heart problems, admitted the racket at an earlier hearing.

The former Royal Navy radio-electrical mechanic, of Nursery Street, is also secretary of the Helensburgh lodge of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, a male-only organisation dedicated to "the pursuit of Brotherhood".

It meets yards from the house in Nursery Street where the separated dad-of-one lives with his girlfriend, Sarah Mann.

Sheriff Bill Dunlop sentenced Croy after taking into account his ill health and admission of guilt.

He said: "This was clearly a well organised and extensive operation."

Pat Ferguson of the British Phonographic Industry, said: "It was the biggest set-up we have ever seen in a house."