AN ILLEGAL immigrant who was forced to sell dodgy DVDs for the Chinese triads has been jailed for four months.

Yi Qing Wang was arrested in north Swindon on Monday after he was caught selling the counterfeit movies.

Swindon Magistrates' Court heard it was the third time he had been charged with selling goods for the Snakehead branch of the Chinese mafia in recent years.

Wang, 35, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to a total of 20 charges relating to selling counterfeit DVDs and unclassified pornography.

Prosecuting Phillip Wirth said Wang was caught by Trading Standards officers and police as he tried to flog the films to builders in Haydon End.

Wang ran from the officers and hid under the counter of a part built kitchen on one of the building sites.

He was found with a bag containing 109 illegal DVDs.

Mr Wirth said: "The defendant was heard by the Trading Standards officers talking to the builders in English.

"It appeared to the officers from the conversation they heard that the defendant was known to the builders.

"When an officer attempted to speak with the defendant he was apparently unable to speak English."

During an interview with the police Wang said he had been in the UK for five years and was an illegal immigrant.

"He had previously worked in Chinese restaurants illegally but had been doing this for two years," Mr Wirth said.

"His bosses instructed him to do it two or three times a week. All the proceeds are given to his bosses and in return he receives food and accommodation and about £8 to £10 in wages.

"He couldn't provide details of his boss who was part of the notorious triads and he feared for his safety."

The films included Spiderman 3 and the Fantastic 4 - Rise of the Silver Surfer.

David Gostling, defending, said Wang would not have sold the porn films to any youngsters.

"The fact is that he knows that he shouldn't have been selling these videos.

"He made one significant point in interview, when asked about the suitability for children when he said, you don't get children on building sites'.

"He came to England and went underground having been refused asylum. He lost his job in a restaurant and was made this offer, which he couldn't refuse.

"It's got him into trouble before and it will get him into trouble again."

Chairman of the bench Bob Sparling sentenced Wang to four months in jail and ordered that the DVDs and a portable DVD player be destroyed. He could also face possible deportation.

In May last year 38-year-old Xing Xiu was sent to jail for three months after he was caught selling fake DVDs for the triads to the builders on the Paramount development in Princes Street.