£6k bill for illegal TV matches

A Black Country pub landlord has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 by magistrates after he was caught repeatedly screening Premiership football matches illegally.

Alistair Milne, of The Horseley Tavern, Horseley Heath, Tipton, did not appear and was found guilty in his absence but says he will appeal because it could force him to "go bust". A West Bromwich Albion versus Chelsea match, drew 150 customers, West Bromwich magistrates heard.

Today Mr Milne said he thought it was all above board. The court heard he was caught showing matches through an illegal Albanian firm on three separate occasions and had been warned that he was acting illegally.

Matches were Chelsea v Arsenal on November 30, Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion on December 26, and Manchester City v Fulham on April 12.

Prosecuting for the Media Protection Service, Ms Victoria Oakes, said that during an investigative visit on November 30 a live Premiership match between Chelsea and Arsenal was showing.

"The logo in the corner was for an Albanian company that does not have the rights to screen Premier League matches in the UK.

"The amount it should have cost the premises to screen the matches is £4,250.40 a year. That is what it should have cost him. There are those businesses who are paying quite a big amount to screen the matches properly in these difficult times."

Mr Milne said: "I didn't know it was illegal. I paid to screen the matches.

"The company I bought it off came round and fitted it. They even phoned me again a while back to see if I wanted it again this year. I didn't know whether it was a hoax when they told me it was illegal. I will definitely appeal this. It will send me bust."

He was fined £5,000, and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and £1,147 court costs.