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A man has been jailed for two years after selling “dodgy” Fire Sticks that allow users to watch pirated streams of Premier League matches.
Sunny Kanda, 41, of Creek View, Wheatley, in Halifax, breached copyright laws when she sold the clubs.
He defrauded legitimate suppliers of more than £108,000 over an 18-month period between 2020 and 2022.
It comes amid a crackdown on illegal streaming after repeated warnings from the Premier League.
The practice has become a major problem in sports: at least 20 million people illegally watched Tyson Fury's first fight against Oleksandr Usyk last May, costing broadcasters £80 million in revenue.
Kanda pleaded guilty to three charges related to fraud, copyright and concealment of bank transfers linked to criminal activity. He was sentenced on Friday at York Crown Court.
Sunny Kanda (pictured) has been jailed for two years after selling “dubious” Fire Sticks
The devices allow users to watch sporting events for free through a 'jailbreak' device
A campaign has been launched to end this illegal practice, which is a big problem for broadcasters.
Its customers were able to access a variety of channels including Sky Sports, TNT Sports, Netflix and Disney+. He ran a Facebook group for his activity with 3,900 members.
A hearing will be held on May 7 to decide whether financial orders will be imposed.
The “dodgy” Fire Sticks look like their Amazon counterparts, but are hacked or jailbroken to give free access to paid content.
The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) has been clamping down on this crime.
The campaign focuses on dismantling hacking operations and has seen officers visit people in person, as well as issuing cease and desist warnings by mail, suggesting there would be criminal prosecution if they did not cease their activities immediately.
Following Kanda's sentencing, Kieron Sharp, chief executive of Fact, said: “The outcome serves as a consequence for those involved in these criminal activities and as a strong warning to others considering similar actions.”
'Illegal streaming is not a victimless crime. It undermines creative industries, puts consumers at risk of data theft and often funds other serious crimes.'