Wirral pubs caught showing Premiership football without a licence

Sep 30 2009 by Kevin Core, Birkenhead News

PUBS in Wirral have been fined thousands of pounds after private investigators caught them illegally showing Liverpool and Everton games on Sky.

The Pensby Hotel, The Dell in Prenton and the Queen’s Hotel in Birkenhead were charged with dishonestly receiving a programme by the Federation against Copyright Theft (FACT) at Wirral Magistrates Court last week.

Representing the organisation, John Walker told the court that, after warnings to bar staff, undercover investigators made repeat visits to premises last year.

Prosecuting Paul Thompson, landlord of the Queen’s Hotel, Park Road East, Birkenhead, he said: “In August last year, an investigator contracted by Sky witnessed Liverpool versus Aston Villa being shown in the pub, it was on six screens and 20 customers were present.”

The landlord had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and was fined £1,015.

At the hearing Arthur Smith, premises supervisor of the Pensby Hotel, on Ridgewood Drive, was found guilty in his absence and fined a total of £2,008.

Mary Diable, of The Dell, Prenton Hall Road, pleaded guilty by letter and was fined £1,405.