A gang involved in the illegal streaming of Premier League matches have been sentenced to jail after providing discounted subscriptions to over 50,000 individuals.
The Premier League confirmed that five men were found guilty of conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, and contempt of court, having amassed more than £7 million in profits over a span of five years.
The operation’s alleged mastermind, Mark Gould, received an 11-year prison term at Chesterfield Crown Court, while his co-defendants Steven Gordon, Peter Jolley, William Brown, and Christopher Felvus also faced substantial sentences. The group offered unauthorized access to matches from numerous international channels and tens of thousands of on-demand films and TV shows.
One member of the gang, Zak Smith, failed to attend the court hearing, resulting in a warrant for his arrest being issued by the Premier League. The organization further revealed that the illegal streaming enterprise employed 30 individuals, with one infiltrating a specialized anti-piracy company.
William Brown, from Stoke-on-Trent, attempted to deny the charges by claiming to have acted as an undercover informant on behalf of law enforcement agencies and broadcasters. However, he was unanimously convicted by a jury after a seven-week trial.
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According to the Premier League, Brown allegedly used his technical skills to hack legitimate customers’ accounts and access and duplicate streams, intending to shift blame onto those customers if identified by authorities.
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The prosecution received support from Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s trading standards team and the intellectual property protection organization Fact.
Premier League general counsel Kevin Plumb expressed satisfaction with the sentencing, highlighting the extensive and intricate nature of the prosecution against this highly sophisticated operation.
“The sentences handed down, which are the longest sentences ever issued for piracy-related crimes, vindicate the efforts made to bring these individuals to justice and reflect the severity and extent of the crimes.
“This prosecution is another concrete example of the clear links between piracy and wider criminality, a warning we repeatedly make.
“While most Premier League fans enjoy watching our games in a safe way, those who were customers of these services were effectively supporting individuals involved in other sinister and dangerous organised crime.
“The Premier League’s substantial financial contribution to the entire football pyramid is made possible through the ability to sell our broadcast rights.
“We are pleased that through rulings such as this, the courts continue to show that they recognise the importance of safeguarding the Premier League’s rights.
“We will continue to protect our rights and our fans by investigating and prosecuting illegal operators at all levels.”
