Judge tells accused he was left with no alternative to a prison term after flaunting court order
BY DAVID MEIKLE A BAR manager caught illegally showing live football on Sky Sports has been jailed for 14 days.
Christopher Clachar was caught showing matches in his Clachan Bar in Whitburn, West Lothian, by undercover investigators.
At court, he was slapped with an order banning him from showing games without a proper agreement with Sky in August 2016.
He breached that and was hit with a fine which went unpaid.
Clachar continued to show games in the bar but was caught twice.
Another team of undercover investigators watched as punters enjoyed a match in February and April last year, unaware Clachar did not have a licence.
He then failed to appear at a hearing last month, leading to further contempt of court proceedings being brought against him.
Judge Lord Ericht, at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, sentenced Clachar to 14 days for contempt, the first time someone has been jailed for breaching a court order and contempt in a case stemming from the unlawful screening of Sky football games.
The court heard Clachar no longer manages the pub, is unemployed and has run up debt.
Sky are also considering whether to launch bankruptcy proceedings against him.
Lord Ericht told Clachar: “Sky complained that they were being penalised because of the expense
LORD ERICHT ON JAILING CHRISTOPHER CLACHAR