James Harold Glen Cowan, 41, and Ann Sarah Cowan, 39, both of Quinn Close, Peterlee, County Durham, ran a factory from their home, ripping off the music and film industries by illegally duplicating discs.

Police seized equipment for copying DVDs and CDs in raids at James and Ann Cowan's home in Quinn Close, Peterlee, and at their caravan at Crimdon Dene.

While this was going on, James Cowan was claiming incapacity benefit and job seekers allowance while Ann Cowan was claiming incapacity benefit.

Both were convicted at Durham Crown Court of conspiring to defraud the film and music industry between June 1999 and June 2005.

James Cowan was jailed for two years after being convicted of conspiracy to defraud, cheating the Revenue and dishonestly obtaining benefits at Durham Crown Court on November 15 2006.

A £150,000 confiscation order was imposed on him last August.

Ann Cowan was given a 15-month suspended sentence and 150 hours community service, after having been convicted of conspiracy to defraud, dishonestly obtaining benefits and perverting the course of justice.

The Cowans this week asked Lord Justice Thomas, sitting with Mr Justice Irwin and Mr Justice Coulson at London's Criminal Appeal Court, to overturn their convictions on appeal.

Lawyers for the pair argued the trial judge had erred in refusing to transfer a representation order to allow them to change their legal team at the last minute and possibly split their trial.

But Lord Justice Thomas refused both their applications for permission to appeal, saying: "The evidence against these appellants was extremely strong and convictions were inevitable, regardless of representation."
The judge also threw out James Cowan's sentence challenge.