A LANCASHIRE policeman's career lay in ruins today after he admitted selling pirate CDs and DVDs to fellow officers.

PC James Moodie, from Burnley, had been due to face trial accused of making the counterfeit discs but he instead admitted alternative charges of distributing them.

Police chiefs have now revealed they are considering his future with the force.

At the time of his arrest, officers investigating the counterfeiting said they were probing claims that the DVDs were sold at police stations across East Lancashire.

A judge warned 44-year-old Moodie, who has been suspended since his arrest almost two years ago, that jail was an option when he returns to court following the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Alongside him in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court was his 37-year-old wife Jane Moodie, also a serving police constable, who is currently suspended.

She denied a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice by trying to conceal fake items which she believed could implicate her husband.

The items involved a cardboard box containing CDs, empty DVD boxes and CD cases.

Simon Christie, prosecuting, said the Crown Prosecution Service would offer no evidence against her when her husband returns for sentencing.

James Moodie, who like his wife was based at Burnley police station, pleaded guilty to 17 offences of distributing DVDs and music CDs prior to April 30, 2004.

Moodie, who was in the communications department at Burnley, sold the items to colleagues at the same station.

The CDs included Madonna's "The American Life," Sugarbabes "Free" and the DVDs included Love Actually and Master and Commander.

Their arrests followed a 15-month investigation by the professional standards department of Lancashire Constabularly into allegations of counterfeit discs being sold to officers at police stations across the county.

Gordon Cole, defending, said the charges Moodie admitted were specific offences.

After the hearing Det Supt Dave Brian said: "The decision has been made by the court and we accept that.

"We will now consider the two officers' suspensions and whether any misconduct proceedings will follow."