An East Lothian publican has been slammed with a five-figure fine after illegally broadcasting live sport to patrons.
The owners of the Crown and Kitchen in East Linton were hit with the penalty by the Court of Session in Edinburgh following a probe into the illicit screening of Sky Sports in premises across Scotland.
The TV giant claimed the establishment was showing football matches without the correct commercial licence required for businesses.
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Each of the four bars cited in the latest sweep was slapped with a £10,000 charge plus interest.
Bosses will also have to pay Sky’s legal fees for the action as part of the decision, it has been revealed.
Pub owners fork out up to £2,000 per month for the right to broadcast Sky’s range of sports, though the subscription package varies between establishments.
The broadcasting giant has been cracking down on so-called ‘pub piracy’ in recent months amid a growing number of illegal streaming services.
Sky was granted a permanent interdict against three other bars, The Bridge Inn in Baillieston, Glasgow, The Masons’ Arms in Lanark and The Mun Lounge and Beer Garden in Dundee, as part of the action.
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Sky's compliance manager Sara Stewart said: "Businesses that show Sky Sports illegally can leave our legitimate Sky subscribers feeling short-changed.
"We actively visit thousands of pubs every season to monitor the games they are showing to help protect hardworking Sky customers who are unfairly losing business due to this illegal activity.
"Venues who continue to televise content in this way are breaking the law, and are at risk of being caught, which can result in licensees being ordered to pay significant damages and legal costs to Sky, and/or losing their personal licence.”
