By SAM BROOKES and KATHERINE LAWTON
A Liverpool father has been sentenced to over three years in prison after being caught selling illegal Firesticks that granted access to pirated Premier League football streams.
Jonathan Edge, 29, a father of two, was remanded in custody last month and pleaded guilty to three charges under the Fraud Act at Liverpool Crown Court. He was sentenced to three years and four months in prison, a ruling confirmed by the Premier League. The sentence also included a separate penalty for unauthorized access and viewing of the content he had uploaded.
An investigation revealed that Edge had been installing pirated football content onto Firesticks, which he sold for cash from his home. Despite multiple warnings to cease his illegal activities, he continued to distribute the pirated streams.
In his defense, Edge’s lawyer, Julian Nutter, argued that his client had good intentions, likening him to a “Robin Hood” figure providing access to football matches for those unable to afford a Sky subscription. However, the court rejected this defense, emphasizing that Edge’s actions were illegal and resulted in significant financial losses for the Premier League.