Football fans face 10 YEARS in prison & unlimited fines if they’re caught using ‘dodgy box’ fire sticks to stream sport
FOOTIE fans face ten YEARS in prison and unlimited fines if they’re busted using “dodgy” Amazon Fire Sticks to stream sports, a lawyer has warned.
The remotes offer users instant access to TV shows on streaming apps like Prime Video, Netflix and Disney+.
But many Brits illegally adapt the control so they can stream unofficial apps like sports streams that aren’t found on Amazon’s store.
This is done by ‘jailbreaking‘ a remote, a process that’s not just illegal but one that can permanently damage your Amazon device.
But barrister Lynette Calder has warned Brits face serious consequences if they jailbreak a Fire Stick, stressing: “Why take the risk?”
The lawyer, of 5 Pump Court, said charges depend on the severity of your crime but a magistrate could issue you with an unlimited fine.
More serious cases of Brits owning a jailbroken fire stick could leave you with a prison sentence of up to 12 months.
She added: “For more serious and organised offending that went to the crown Court you are talking a maximum of up to 10 years in prison if the charge is under section 7 or 5 years for section 6 and 11.
“Why take the risk? If you can’t afford the streaming service for premier league then why not find yourself a pub that can.
“That way the added bonus is a pint, not a £2500 fine.”
In October, a Prem streaming “mastermind” was jailed for two-and-a-half years for selling illegal Fire Sticks to a reported 30,000 subscribers.
Steven Mills, 58, from Shrewsbury, Shrops, netted more than £1m over a five year period through the operation, a court heard.
In May last year, five fraudsters were jailed for a total of 30 years and seven months for their role in three illegal Premier streaming services.
Trading under the names Flawless, Shared VPS and Optimal (also known as Cosmic), the group made over £7 million in five years and boasted more than 50,000 customers.
It undercut the likes of Sky Sports by bypassing a Uefa-imposed “blackout” that stops the broadcast of most 3pm kick-offs on Saturdays, which encourages fans to go to games.
The group’s “prime mover” Mark Gould alone pocketed a staggering £1.7 million from the operation.
At Derby Crown Court, Gould, then 36, was jailed for 11 years following a rare private prosecution by the Premier League.