A serving Corporal in the Royal Air Force has been convicted of conspiracy to defraud and loss of service property.
The serviceman had sold access to streaming services including premium sport, TV and films. He was convicted of conspiracy to defraud and loss of service property and also received a reduction to his rank.
The Corporal, from Oxfordshire, sold illegal subscriptions through a Facebook group and via an app which could be loaded onto Firestick devices with an accompanying subscription.
Investigations by anti-piracy organisation FACT, in partnership with the RAF Special Investigation Branch, confirmed that the individual was working with illegal content providers outside of the military to defraud rightsholders by allowing consumers to bypass legitimate subscriptions. Investigations into these additional providers are continuing.
“Those running illegal streaming services are committing a serious crime and must be held accountable for their actions,” said FACT Chief Executive Kieron Sharp. “This result shows the serious consequences faced by individuals who choose to break the law by supplying illegal content. This type of conviction will have a significant and long-lasting effect on this individual’s career and future opportunities.”
