A Liverpool man who ran an illegal Premier League streaming operation from his home has been jailed for over three years – with part of his sentence specifically for watching the pirated content himself.
Jonathan Edge, 29, made thousands selling “fully loaded” Firesticks that provided unauthorised access to premium sports and TV content.
But in a warning to users of illegal IPTV services across the UK, it wasn’t just the selling that landed him in prison.
This week, Liverpool Crown Court handed him a total sentence of three years and four months after he pleaded guilty to three offences under the Fraud Act – including a separate concurrent sentence specifically for watching the illegal streams himself.
The Liverpool Firestick Operation
Edge’s operation involved loading illegal streaming services onto Amazon Fire TV Sticks (commonly known as Firesticks) in exchange for cash payments at his home.
According to the Manchester Evening News, he ran this scheme from April 2020 to December 2023, charging £30 per modified Firestick, with discounts for bulk purchases.
Edge promoted his services through Facebook posts and relied on word-of-mouth recommendations to build his customer base, eventually amassing at least 500 customers, according to evidence found on his seized mobile phone.
His scheme unravelled in August 2023 when an undercover FACT investigator conducted a test purchase, buying four illegal Firesticks for £100.
The subsequent investigation led to a police raid on Edge’s Anfield Road home in December 2023. Over the course of his operation, he made at least £15,000 from selling modified devices.
Despite receiving multiple warnings to cease his activities, Edge continued operating – a factor the judge specifically highlighted as an aggravating circumstance when determining his sentence.
The prosecution was led by the Premier League, with support from FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) and Merseyside Police.
The “Robin Hood” Defence
In court, Edge’s defence team painted him as a modern-day Robin Hood, arguing he was providing a service to those who couldn’t afford legitimate subscriptions.
“The people who would buy his products would not be people who are likely to have the money to buy a Sky subscription. They have limited income,” defence lawyer Julian Nutter told the court.
“He was providing a service to people who would probably not be able to afford it otherwise. There’s an element of a Robin Hood to all that.”
However, the judge rejected this defence, noting that legitimate subscribers are victims of these fraudulent operations (as prices eventually go up due to illegal streaming).
A Warning To Viewers
In a departure from some of the previous IPTV cases, the court’s decision to separately punish Edge for viewing illegal streams sends a clear message: even watching unauthorised content, not just selling it, can result in prison time.
This warning becomes even more pertinent given that police seized Edge’s mobile phone containing the names of 500 customers, who were potentially also watching the same illegally streamed content.
Kevin Plumb, Premier League General Counsel, emphasised the gravity of these offences: “The significant sentence handed down to the individual involved once again serves to highlight the severity of his actions.
“We will continue to pursue legal action against those supplying unauthorised access to Premier League football, regardless of the scale or mode of operation.”
Recent UK IPTV Crackdowns
This latest conviction follows several other high-profile cases across the UK:
The Ilford Brothers: In August 2024, two brothers from Ilford received combined prison sentences of 11 years for running an illegal streaming operation that cost legitimate TV providers over £1 million in lost revenue.
The Widnes Raid: In July 2024, authorities arrested a 51-year-old man in Widnes for allegedly selling modified Amazon Fire TV Sticks and other streaming devices.
The £1 Million Premier League Scheme: In October 2023, Steven Mills from Shrewsbury was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for operating an illegal streaming service that made £1 million over five years. Similarly, the court recognised his own use of the unauthorized service as a distinct crime, meriting a separate prison sentence.
Understanding Jailbroken Firesticks And Illegal IPTV
Cases like Edge’s typically involve modified or “jailbroken” Amazon Fire TV Sticks (also known as “dodgy sticks” or “dodgy boxes”).
While jailbreaking itself isn’t illegal, using modified devices to access copyrighted content without permission is against the law.
These operations often involve:
- Installing unauthorized apps on Firesticks
- Providing access to premium content without proper licensing
- Offering suspiciously low prices for premium services
- Using social media for community boards for advertising
Protecting Yourself: What To Watch Out For
Given the court’s willingness to punish viewers of illegal streams, it’s more important than ever to avoid unauthorised services.
Here are some red flags:
- Firesticks advertised as “fully loaded” or “jailbroken”
- Promises of free premium content
- Significantly lower prices than official services
- Devices sold through social media or unofficial channels
- Pre-installed apps claiming to offer free access to paid content
The bottom line? If you see a streaming platform that sounds too good to be true – it likely is. Stick to well-known and reputable streaming services to ensure a safe and legal viewing experience.
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Its the fact he’s making money out of it. If it was for personal use he might have gotten away with it.
The prisons are full and so they are letting people go
So why are we putting people in jail for these trivial crimes you have got to say something is wrong with the system