Trader avoids jail for selling TV boxes to dodge subscriptions

COURT: Man advertised set-top equipment to get free channels

A trader who made around £40,000 selling set-top TV boxes allowing people to watch Premier League matches and movies for free has avoided a jail term.

Shop owner Brian Thompson, 55, advertised what are often called Kodi boxes on the front of his Middlesbrough outlet with a sign saying “Sick of paying monthly subscriptions? Free Sky, Virgin, Box Nation, Racing UK”.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the losses to Sky were an estimated £200,000 in subscriptions they did not receive over the period Thompson, of Barnaby Avenue in the town, was trading.

Judge Peter Armstrong handed him an 18-month jail sentence, suspended for two years after Thompson admitted one count of selling and one count of advertising devices “designed, produced or adapted for the purpose of enabling or facilitating the circumvention of effective technological measures”.

Cameron Crowe, prosecuting, said streaming devices were not illegal if they were used to access free content.

“If, however, they are designed, produced or adapted for the purpose of gaining unauthorised access to copyright content or subscription services – such as Sky and BT Sports – they become illegal,” he pointed out.

Trading standards officers made a test purchase from Thompson’s Dundas Shopping Centre outlet in 2015 and a raid was carried out.

He moved premises after the raid and advertised on Facebook, referring to “boxes for all ya channels”, “You get all the movies” and “Every film and box set ever made even ones at the cinema”.

Judge Armstrong said: “Those who lawfully have to pay £50 a month or more on Sky or BT subscriptions, I think, are done a disservice by people like you and those who buy these devices.

“It is not a victimless crime. It has knock-on effects.”

Picture: PA. Brian Thompson openly sold boxes to pick up channels normally only available on subscription.