A Clacton man who defrauded TV broadcasters has been sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years, after selling illegally adapted streaming devices.

Aaron Smith, 41, admitted to selling access to illegal streaming platforms through Fire TV sticks to more than 540 people, as well as charging them annual fees to maintain the access he added to them.

In 2023 Smith was initially sent a cease-and-desist letter along with all other identified users explaining the criminal offences he would be committing if he continues to access illegal streaming services.

Smith ignored the warning and the subsequent investigation discovered he was supplying hundreds of people with access to the illegal services.

Initially arrested in Clacton in December 2024, he gave no comment in interview while Essex Police carried out a warrant at his Clacton home which resulted in Smith’s laptop and phone being seized.

Messages recovered from Smith’s phone showed he was advertising the devices for sale as early as October 2020, whilst the laptop showed conversations about selling the Fire sticks, details of payment methods and posters advertising the service.

Hundreds of payments related to these devices were made to Smith’s bank accounts totalling more than £72,000, and an Account Freezing Order was put in place under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) to freeze funds that were believed to represent criminal property.

After a lengthy and detailed investigation, supported by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), Smith was charged with money laundering and the sale or hire of an article infringing copyright, and pleaded guilty to both offences at Chelmsford Crown Court on 21 July 2026.

He was sentenced at the same court on 15 October. He was also ordered to complete 30 hours of rehabilitation activities and 150 hours of unpaid work. POCA hearings will be scheduled to establish what funds may be available for confiscation.

Detective Sergeant Mike Monkton, of Essex Police’s Proactive Money Laundering Team, said:

“This was a criminal enterprise. The evidence showed Smith put himself at the centre of organised crime.”

“The financial cost to the affected businesses is vast. Every device undermines legitimate broadcasters and sports clubs down to a community level who rely on legal revenue.”

“It is far from a victimless crime and carries real consequences: those accessing the illegal streaming services also risk fines, criminal records or even prison for using them, as Smith knew when he received the cease-and-desist letter.”

Nick Sumner, Investigations Manager at FACT, said:

“We welcome this sentence and were pleased to support Essex Police during the investigation.”

“Anyone selling illegally modified streaming devices or profiting from pirated content should be under no illusion: police, rights holders and FACT are working closely to identify them, disrupt their operations and ensure they face the consequences.”