A COURT official has been suspended on suspicion of selling counterfeit CDs at Blackburn magistrates court.

The member of staff, understood to be an office worker, has been told to stay away from work until a Trading Standards investigation is completed.

Last Thursday, Trading Standards officers raided three Audley addresses in an unconnected operation and smashed what was thought to be the biggest CD and DVD counterfeit racket in the country.

The following day, a whistle-blower alleged that a fellow member of staff at Blackburn magistrates had been selling small number of CDs at the court.

Management immediately launched an inquiry and the court official, whose identity has not been revealed, was suspended the following day.

The case was then referred to Blackburn with Darwen Trading Standards for a senior officer to carry out the investigation.

Anthony Egerton, chief executive of the Lancashire Magistrates' Courts Service, said the matter would be dealt with fairly and swiftly.

He added: "The member of staff is not directly involved in the business of the court and the alleged activity would have had no bearing on any court business.

"The Magistrates' Courts Service does not tolerate dishonesty or impropriety among its staff and has acted swiftly to inform the appropriate authorities and to ensure that the sale or offer for sale of counterfeit goods, which it is believed may have taken place at the magistrates' court in Blackburn, does not recur."

Chris Allen, head of Blackburn with Darwen Trading Standards, said: "Blackburn with Darwen Trading Standards Service is currently investigating this matter, but it is not possible at this time to predict how long this will take.

"Punishments for selling counterfeit items can range from warnings to imprisonment, dependent on the circumstances."