Two Brits jailed for selling Kodi boxes that let you stream Sky TV & movies for free

[Len]

The pair have been sentenced to a combined total of 42 months in prison for charges related to online piracy

Two Brits have been jailed for distributing illegal "full-loaded" Kodi set-top boxes that give access to pirated TV shows and movies.

Glenn Burrows and Darren Wicks were sentenced at Norwich Crown Court today as part of an ongoing crackdown on online piracy in the UK.

Burrows, 33, and Wicks, 45, worked as part of a rogue company called "Ooberstick" and "Oober Media".

The court heard how in 2016, Burrows sold illicit streaming devices to thousands of customers.

These streaming devices – which run a modified version of the Kodi app – let customers obtain premium Sky content without paying for a valid subscription.

Wicks helped Burrows, helping him ship the illegal devices to customers across the UK.

The pair were arrested on Tuesday, December 13 in 2016 and subsequently released under investigation.

In September last year, Burrows, of North Walsham, pleaded guilty to intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence. He was also charged with a money laundering offence.

Wicks, of Chippenham in Wiltshire, was also charged with encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence, although his plea came later, on May 17 this year.

Burrows has been sentenced to 22 months in prison on both counts, to run concurrently.

He's also subject to a Serious Crime Prevention Order, which will prevent him from selling products online for five years.

Additionally, he has a requirement to notify Norfolk Constabulary of any of his online usernames and identities.

Wicks was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspending for two years.

He'll have to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work on top of that, too.

Detective Sergeant Samantha Shevlin, of the Norfolk and Suffolk Police Cyber Crime Unit, said: "I hope these sentences send a clear message that the use of illicit streaming devices to watch content without the copyright owner's permission is illegal.

"The sale of these boxes has a huge effect on the content owners, broadcasters and the wider public who will end up paying the price for others' dishonesty.

"The message really is that simple - devices like this or using one at home to watch content you normally would pay for is breaking the law."