Man sentenced over 'Rings' internet scam

A Wellington man has been sentenced to 12 months' supervision and counselling for selling stolen footage of the $260 million Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

The 36-year-old, who has interim name suppression pending an appeal, pleaded guilty last month to one charge of receiving three videotapes and another of dealing in a reproduced document.

In the Auckland District Court yesterday, Judge David Robinson said the man had promoted the sale of two tapes over the internet as "exclusive, never seen before" footage of the film.

The asking price for a raw 90-minute tape was $US50,000 ($NZ105,600).

There was also a one-minute digital video tape available for sale.

Police had investigated the incident for around six weeks before negotiating to buy the 90-minute tape in June for $US5000 ($10,566) through a covert operation.

Money changed hands and the offender, who had been negotiating the sale under an alias, was identified and arrested on June 24.

No footage was sent overseas before the arrest.

Judge Robinson took into account the man's early guilty plea and that he had repaid the $US5000 earned from the illegal sale.

He was also instrumental in the return of 17 other stolen tapes containing advance footage of the film .

The man's name has been suppressed for a week while his lawyer, Lester Cordwell, lodges an appeal against the judge's order to lift suppression.