A MAN jailed for selling illegal football streams to pubs and clubs across the region has been ordered to pay more than half a million pounds to the public purse.

In April 2018, John Dodds and associate Jason Richards were jailed for four-and-a-half years for supplying illegal streaming devices (ISDs) providing unauthorised access to Premier League content to hundreds of pubs.

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They are thought to have made £1.5m from the con.

This week a court has ordered Dodds to pay back more than £520,000 towards the fight against crime or he will face longer behind bars.

Dodds, who pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to defraud, had sold Kodi-type devices to hundreds of pubs and clubs in the North-East enabling them to show Premier League football via unauthorised access to Sky Sports, BT Sport and illegal foreign channels.

He also deceived customers who were regularly left with faulty devices that had their broadcast signal interrupted or did not work properly.

Upon his initial arrest, Dodds attempted to prevent evidence being discovered by the police. He was found to be hiding the keys to a car full of equipment and documentation, including a list of all his clients.

At Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday, Dodds was ordered to pay back £521,000 within three months or face his prison sentence being extended by an additional five years.

On issuing the Order, the judge described Dodds as an unreliable and dishonest character.

He was found to have concealed proceeds of his criminal activities by hiding large amounts of cash in his house and placing property assets in his daughter’s name, in what the judge found to be ‘a sham’.

Premier League director of legal services Kevin Plumb said: “This is a welcome judgment and we are pleased the courts have recognised how serious an issue illegal streaming is – it is a crime which has very significant consequences.

“The defendant has now been ordered to forfeit the proceeds of his criminal activities, which we have requested go directly back to the public purse.

"The money recovered will go towards funding the courts and law enforcement agencies to help continue the brilliant work they do in helping bring people like this to justice.”

Dodds and associate Jason Richards were arrested following an investigation led by the Premier League working in partnership with FACT, which works to protect the content, product and interests of the film and television broadcasting industries.

Following Thursday's ruling, FACT chief executive Kieron Sharp said: "Today’s court order shows emphatically that providing illegal streaming services is a serious criminal offence that will result in a prison sentence for fraud and additional financial consequences.

“This is a warning to anyone selling subscriptions or devices that allow access to content without remunerating the legitimate provider – you risk time in jail and the loss of your properties, cars and other proceeds of crime.

“FACT will continue to work with members to crackdown on illegal streaming and to hold those behind it accountable for their actions.”

A range of North East bodies, including North East GAIN and The National Trading Standards Regional Investigation Team, played key supporting roles in the investigation.

Lord Toby Harris, Chair of National Trading Standards, said: “Mr Dodds orchestrated the sale of hundreds of devices that undermined legitimate businesses and ripped off consumers, with many customers paying for Kodi-style boxes and equipment that were faulty.

“The long prison sentence, combined with the additional confiscation orders announced this week, send a strong message that crime does not pay. This case clearly demonstrates that providing access to unauthorised streams and content is illegal and anyone engaging in piracy of this nature is liable to prosecution.”

Anyone who comes across content that does not look legitimate is asked to contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800-555111 or filling out its online form.