North West man who made £200k selling illegal TV and sport streaming is arrested

Craig Austin, a 38-year-old man from Whiston, Merseyside, has been sentenced for selling illegal TV and sport streaming services that allowed more than 1,000 customers to watch paid-for content without paying providers. Prosecutors say his social-media and messaging-driven operation marketed services under names including IPTV and Firestick. Investigators identified hundreds of payments ranging from £40 to £80 across linked accounts and estimate Austin earned more than £200,000 from January 2020 to August 2025. Sky UK’s anti-piracy team reviewed screenshots showing access to premium Sky content, and estimated losses of £3,661,908; Warner Bros Discovery estimated losses exceeding £830,000. Arrested on Aug. 7, 2025, Austin admitted responsibility. He pleaded guilty in July 2026 and received a 32-month suspended jail term, 150 hours unpaid work, and 20 days of rehabilitation activity.