Publican fined £3,500 for cheating Sky

Highfield pub, Moorside: big fine

THE licensee of an Oldham pub has been fined more than £3,500 after illegally showing Sky Sports football matches.

Stephen Moss, of The Highfield public house, has been given 21 days to pay £3,515, after witnesses acting for Sky found he was showing Carling Cup and Premier League matches on a domestic subscription, rather than a £728 a month commercial licence.

Moss, who lives at the Ripponden Road pub, was not present in court when magistrates found him guilty.

Andrew Johnson, prosecuting on behalf of the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), said an investigator first visited the pub last October and afterwards Moss was sent a letter informing him of the legalities of showing Sky football matches without the proper subscription.

Five further visits took place during City or United games, all shown on Sky without the correct licence.

FACT applied for costs — around £1,800, but the magistrates fined Moss £500 for each offence and reduced costs to £1,000.

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