Host wins foreign satellite soccer appeal

A licensee has won his Crown Court appeal for screening foreign satellite football by arguing he didn't act dishonestly.

Under the law, to be convicted, licensees must have "dishonestly" received foreign satellite transmissions. It was ruled that this was not the case for Alec Piercy, of Ridge Farm at Bedlington, Northumbria.

Piercy was convicted at Newcastle Magistrates in February 2009 but he won his appeal at Newcastle Crown Court this week.

The court ruled that "having taken all factors into account MPS [Media Protection Services, with investigates foreign satellite screenings] could not establish that Alec Piercy acted dishonestly".

Speaking after the hearing, his solicitor Paul Dixon, Molesworths Bright Clegg's head of licensing and regulatory affairs, said: "I am absolutely delighted for Alec. Like the vast majority of licensees, he is a man of impeccable character who works hard to provide a first class service for his local community.

"We felt that the decision of the Magistrates Court was wholly wrong, and we are pleased to have overturned it and removed stain on Alec's character."

But MPS boss Ray Hoskin said it will always be a "subjective" assessment as to whether someone acted dishonestly.

He added: "We are winning 95% of our cases before the courts and licensees must know that their licence is in jeopardy."

A Premier League spokesman said: "This decision in does not legitimise the use of foreign satellite equipment to broadcast Barclays Premier League football.

"The Premier League, working with Media Protection Services, will continue to actively monitor pubs alleged to be illegally broadcasting our footage and will prosecute when appropriate."