The head of an illegal broadcasting network has been ordered to repay £3.75 million – or face an additional ten years in prison.
Mark Gould, the mastermind behind the illegal streaming service Flawless, has been ordered to confiscate £2.35m in proceeds from his criminal activities within three months, following a hearing at Derby Crown Court.
This decision serves as a clear warning to other criminals and to viewers tempted to use illegal devices to watch illegal broadcasts of Premier League matches.
Gould was one of five people responsible for providing illegal broadcasts of matches on a large scale, with more than 50,000 customers and around 30 employees.
The confiscation order follows similar proceedings against four other people, totalling £3.75m. All have been ordered to pay the sum or face additional imprisonment.
Gould was initially found guilty in May 2023 and sentenced to 11 years in prison, while the others received a total of 30 years in prison. This is considered the largest piracy case in the world.
The confiscated money will be returned to the public budget and highlights the Premier League's ongoing fight against illegal broadcasting, which is often linked to other criminal activities.
Premier League officials, supported by Hammersmith & Fulham Council's Trading Standards team and advocacy organisation FACT, are determined to combat the phenomenon, which they see as a serious threat to television rights and the state of football itself.
The Premier League's Director of Law Enforcement, Stefan Sergot, said these measures demonstrate the league's determination to ensure that those involved in illegal broadcasts do not benefit from criminal activities.
While Doug Love, lead investigator at Hammersmith & Fulham Trading Standards, added that this is an important conclusion of an investigation that began in 2017 and that such measures should serve as a deterrent to anyone considering engaging in similar activities./Express newspaper/
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