Streaming Scam Duo Jailed for Raking in £540k from Illegal Box Sales
Set-Top Box Fraudsters Busted by Kent Trading Standards
At Canterbury Crown Court, two men were handed hefty jail terms after a crackdown on illegal streaming devices. Billy Martin from London got 21 months, while Darren Bough from Dover received two years, after admitting to Fraudulent Trading, Money Laundering, and Copyright offences.
The 2019 raid by Kent County Council Trading Standards seized numerous tailor-made set-top boxes in Dover and Tonbridge. These dodgy gadgets, loaded with illicit ‘add-ons’, allowed users to access unauthorised films, TV programmes, and sports broadcasts.
Half a Million Pounds Made Through Dodgy Membership Schemes
Investigators uncovered an illegal membership system with multiple subscription levels. The pair provided step-by-step guides on how to use the devices to watch premium content for free. Money was funneled through five separate PayPal accounts, raking in over £540,000 in just 18 months.
- Darren Bough pocketed £399,536
- Billy Martin earned £140,568
Both pleaded guilty to laundering the proceeds from their scam.
Judge Slams ‘A Pair of Fagins’ for Attacking Online Commerce
His Honour Judge Rupert Lowe branded the duo “a pair of Fagins” for preying on the digital marketplace. Describing their scheme as “quite simply a cheat,” he warned this crime struck at the core of fair online trading.
Despite pleas highlighting their family commitments, the judge ruled the offences too serious to avoid jail. The lengthy delay since their 2019 arrest, caused by Covid backlogs, didn’t spare them custodial sentences.
Kent Trading Standards Vows to Keep Fighting IP Crime
“Intellectual property crime damages the economy,” said Clive Phillips, Operations Manager, Kent County Council Trading Standards. “It hits creators, avoids tax, and stifles innovation. We will hunt down offenders and protect honest businesses in Kent.”
The council plans to pursue confiscation of the crime profits as part of ongoing efforts to stamp out copyright fraud.
