Police and the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) have carried out a series of investigations and raids targeting people using modified firesticks to stream Sky Sports and TNT content without paying. Several key streamers supplying thousands of “fully loaded fire sticks” have been caught and cut off, including operations based in Wales, Chorley, Prescot and Stoke-on-Trent. Jail terms have been handed out and proceeds of crime proceedings initiated.
Chorley Man Sentenced for £980,812 Streaming Business
The latest conviction saw Milan Ibrahim, aged 68, of Chorley, sentenced on Thursday, August 27 to six and a half years’ imprisonment for running an illegal streaming business that generated £980,812 in criminal profits. Ibrahim was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud at Preston Crown Court and will now face proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover funds obtained through the sale of illegal IPTV services.
The operation, led by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at the City of London Police, disrupted thousands of illegal streams accessed across the UK. PIPCU established that the operation supplied illegal IPTV services to customers in the UK and overseas, particularly targeting British expats living abroad. The business operated on 80 servers from premises in Chorley and generated £980,812 over a three-year period. During enforcement activity, all 80 servers were seized and shut down.
Pub Licensees Fined for Broadcasting Sky Sports
In another swoop, Malcolm Rhead, the licensee of the Sneyd Arms in Stoke-on-Trent, was found guilty of two offences relating to the dishonest broadcast of Sky Sports. He was ordered to pay total fines and costs of £5,535.70.
Joanne Elizabeth Hughes, the licensee of the Rollers Arms in Wrexham, North East Wales, was found guilty in her absence of three offences in relation to the dishonest broadcast of Sky televised programming. The proceedings determined that Hughes had broadcast Sky Sports football matches without a legitimate commercial viewing agreement, aiming to avoid payment of the relevant commercial subscription fee. She was ordered to pay total fines and costs of £4,529.55.
Prescot Man Given Suspended Sentence for Ozzy Streams
Craig Austin, 38, of Keats Avenue, Whiston, pleaded guilty in July to three counts of making or supplying an article for use in fraud and one count of acquiring, using, or possessing criminal property relating to assets and profits. He was handed a 32-month sentence suspended for three years for running Ozzy Streams, an illegal IPTV service offering unauthorised access to content belonging to Sky, TNT Sports, and the Premier League.
The service was promoted via a social media account with over 1,500 followers. The investigation found that Austin made £205,000 from the illegal streaming operation between January 2020 and August 2025.
Premier League and FACT Respond
Stefan Sergot, Director of Legal Enforcement at the Premier League, said: “This is a significant outcome against one of the UK’s most prominent and long-standing suppliers of pirate services. Milan Ibrahim repeatedly sold content belonging to the Premier League and other rights holders for his own financial gain. His sentence reflects the seriousness of his offending and sends a clear message that those who profit from piracy will ultimately be held accountable.”
Nick Sumner, Investigations Manager at FACT, said: “Illegal streaming services undermine rights holders and broadcasters, as well as the many people who pay to access content legitimately. This case shows how intelligence-led investigations and close cooperation with law enforcement can identify the people behind illegal services and bring them before the courts.”
