Man who went on the run after selling illegal TV boxes is FINALLY jailed having pocketed £350,000 from the scheme, costing broadcasters £2m amid crackdown on viewing content illegally
- Michael Hornung, 40, was reportedly due to be sentenced in 2022 but fled Britain
- From Manchester he would have received a prison sentence of four and a half years
- Listen to It all starts! Palmer, Gordon, Eze, Bowen… Who would replace Foden if he was ousted?
A man who went on the run from British officials after selling thousands of illegal IPTV boxes has been jailed, according to reports.
According to copyright protection group FACT, Michael Hornung, 40, had fled the United Kingdom after originally being sentenced in 2022 and was living in Northern Cyprus to avoid extradition.
Hornung, from Greater Manchester, has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for running a scheme that allowed access to premium Sky and BT channels.
It is said he pocketed an estimated £350,000 from the crime. An investigation is believed to have begun more than a decade ago.
He reportedly sold around 2,700 boxes, with broadcasters and rights holders losing £2 million in revenue due to his actions.
A man who fled the UK after allegedly pocketing £350,000 selling illegal TV boxes is said to have been jailed
It is estimated that Michael Hornung, 40, cost broadcasters £2million with the three-year programme
He reportedly sold around 2,700 boxes before fleeing to Northern Cyprus to avoid extradition to Britain.
It is believed the project was called ‘NoHatsNoTrainers’, ran between 2014 and 2017 and traded on online platform CS World.
“Hornung thought fleeing abroad would mean he would never have to face his crimes,” said Tom Dowdall, deputy international director at the National Crime Agency (NCA).
“However, the NCA’s international network regularly shares intelligence and works closely with foreign partners to apprehend those on the run.
“After consultation with law enforcement officials in Cyprus, Hornung has been returned to Britain to serve his sentence.”
IPTV boxes are legal, but become illegal when they are modified to include the broadcast of premium subscription content.
News of Hornung’s arrest, believed to take place on June 2, is the latest conviction related to illegal access to content, with authorities also looking to crack down on the use of illegal fire sticks.
The news of Hornung’s arrest is the latest conviction related to illegal access to the content
“Hornung’s criminal activities provided customers with the means to access premium TV without compensating broadcasters or those with intellectual property rights,” said Kieron Sharp, CEO of FACT.
“This belief underlines our commitment to tackling fraud and piracy at all levels and ensuring those responsible are held accountable.
“The extradition of Michael Hornung reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of the law.
“FACT will be relentless in our pursuit of individuals who profit from illegal activities, regardless of where they seek refuge.”