A BUSINESSMAN will face a trial after denying charges he faces in a landmark case centred on the sale of television boxes.

Kodi dealer Brian Thompson, 54, appeared on Friday at Teesside Crown Court - where he has chosen to have his prosecution held.

Mr Thompson, of Barnaby Avenue, Middlesbrough, faces charges of selling boxes and advertising products to circumvent technological measures.

He pleaded not guilty to two charges of selling devices “designed, produced or adapted for the purpose of enabling or facilitating the circumvention of effective technological measures” on March 12 and October 2, 2015 and advertising for sale such devices between July 25, 2015 and January 30, 2016 during a short hearing this morning.

Middlesbrough Council has brought one of the first ever prosecutions relating to the sale of Android or Kodi boxes - which allow users to stream subscription content like Premier League football and blockbuster films free of charge.

The box itself is not illegal, but after a lengthy investigation Middlesbrough Council maintains it is against the law to sell them “pre-loaded” with the capability of accessing copyrighted material.

Thompson, whose business Cutprice Tomo TVs is on Parliament Road, was summonsed to court following a pair of council test purchases.

His trial is scheduled to start on May 8, and until then he was given bail by Judge Stephen Ashurst.