UK: Lengthy jail sentence handed out as piracy crackdown continues

[Len]

KODI add-on fans have been put on alert after a lengthy jail sentence was handed out in the UK.

The Kodi crackdown continues as a court in Britain has issued a hefty jail sentence to scammers that profited from illegal Kodi add-ons.

Research has suggested Kodi - which offers access to thousands of channels - is being used in more than five million UK homes.

Kodi software is not illegal, but developers can produce third-party add-ons that provide free access to pirated and illegal content.

These apps allow users to stream premium content, like paid-for sports, movie channels and TV shows for free.

The illegal add-ons are being targeted by ISPs, government agencies, broadcasters and rights holders.

And now a court in Wales has handed a jail sentence of almost two years to one online pirate.

Caernarfon Crown Court has jailed Michael Jarman, also known as Michael Wilde, for 21 months for selling “fully loaded” Kodi boxes.

These are third-party devices which come pre-loaded with illegal Kodi add-ons.

The devices Jarman sold allowed people to watch “pay to view” content such as live Premier League football free of charge.

The court heard Jarman and his partner Natalie Louise Forber netted £105,000 from the scam, the Daily Post reported.

Kodi Boxes were sold for £100 and the court heard at least 1,000 devices were sold between the end of February 2013 and January 30 2015.

Jarman, 37, was jailed after admitting charges of running a fraudulent business and money laundering.

Forber initially denied charges and was due to stand trial.

But earlier this month at a hearing at Caernarfon Crown Court she asked for the charges to be put to her again.

She admitted a charge of participating in a fraudulent business.

Forber and Jarman also admitted a charge of transferring criminal property.

Forber, a mum-of-two, was jailed for 16 months with the sentence suspended for two years.

She was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and attend courses organised by the probation service that lasts for 15 days.

David Birrell, prosecuting, said: “They would programme them to access subscription television channels and distribute them.

“They charged £100 for each device.”

Sentencing the pair, Judge Niclas Parry described the offences as a “relatively sophisticated fraud” that took place over a significant period.

After the hearing councillor Mark Baker, who is also the Conwy cabinet member for regulation, said: “Trading Standards support a fair and equitable trading environment, where legitimate businesses are protected from those who offer substandard, low quality and dangerous goods.

“Rogue businesses who offer illegal services and fake goods can have a devastating impact on legitimate local businesses.

“They can also potentially fund organised crime.

"We will continue to vigorously pursue all traders who try to take advantage of consumers and lawful businesses.”