A man caught selling illegal stream subscriptions to the UK’s biggest sporting events over Twitter has been jailed in his absence after he fled the country.
Mark Brockley, 54, made £237,000 by selling subscriptions that enabled the illegal streaming of content hosted by BT Sport, including Premier League and UEFA Champions League matches through a service called Infinity Streams.
The City of London’s Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit launched an investigation in November 2018 after BT reported that a Twitter account, using the handle @Infinity_IPTV, was advertising the sale of premium film, television and sports content to its followers.
Subscribers could purchase a month-long subscription to Infinity IPTV for just £15.
During his police interview, Brockley answered “no comment£ to all questions. He received 10 further payments in relation to the supply of IPTV services, worth a total of £278, following the interrogation.
Police believe that Brockley then fled to France with his dog to avoid prosecution. His current whereabouts are unknown.
DC Geoffrey Holbrook, from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police, said: “Brockley made tens of thousands of pounds from an illegal activity and used the money to fund his lifestyle.
“Despite being interviewed by PIPCU officers and knowing that his actions were against the law, he continued to sell IPTV subscriptions and then left the country in an attempt to avoid the consequences of his actions.
“We are now appealing for information on Brockley’s whereabouts, and ask anyone who may be able to help to contact the City of London Police.”
The unit identified that Brockley had made 5,251 sales with a total value of £237,058 from 24 October 2014 to 8 May 2019.
Brockley was found guilty of supplying articles for use in fraud and of the fraudulent evasion of income tax at a trial in his absence at Liverpool Crown Court on 30 March 2023 after he failed to attend court. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment at the same court on 5 May 2023.
Brockley, of John Bagot Close, Liverpool, will serve his prison sentence once he has been arrested.
