VICE squad officers swooped on a Southampton sex shop and seized hard-core pornographic videos, a court heard yesterday.

Police took the unusual step of prosecuting Darren Donnarumma, leaseholder of 3XXX in St Mary's Street, under the Obscene Publications Act.

The 29-year-old admitted publishing an obscene article and also seven charges of possessing an unclassified video with intent to supply.

It was the second time Donnarumma, of Chestnut Road, Shirley, has been charged with selling pornography this year.

City council trading standards officers prosecuted him in June, which resulted in his being fined £5,000 for supplying illegal videos.

Charles Pitt, prosecuting, told Southampton magistrates that officers executed a search warrant at his shop and his home where they seized a large number of hard-core pornographic videos and magazines.

He said the offence under the Obscene Publications Act related to a video including images of a female bound and gagged.

Mr Pitt said: "Donnarumma admitted having these videos on sale although they were not actually put on display at his shop because they are illegal.

"He is clearly aware of the requirements of the act because it is his second time in court for similar offences but he decided not to comply with them.

"He clearly considers that the property was worth the fines of £5,000 that he previously received."

It is illegal under the Video Recordings Act to possess unclassified videos with intent to supply, added Mr Pitt.

Magistrates adjourned the case until December 1 for pre-sentence reports.

Donnarumma was remanded on unconditional bail.

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