1 Million Pounds with Illegal Streams: Now Facing Prison

Stephen Woodward (36) from Thirsk in the north of England was sentenced to three years and one month in prison after generating millions with three illegal IPTV services. The websites IPTV Hosting, Helix Hosting, and Black and White TV provided paid access to copyrighted pay-TV, including content from Sky Sports and BT Sport.

Luxury Life Through Streaming Fraud

According to the police, Woodward used the proceeds for luxury expenses: expensive clothing, jewelry, exclusive trips, and a 91,000-pound Jaguar F-Type V8. At his arrest at King's Cross station, he carried 20,000 pounds in cash with him.

Money Laundering with PayPal and Crypto

Investigations by the British police unit for copyright offenses (PIPCU) revealed a sophisticated system: Woodward used over a dozen PayPal accounts, 23 bank connections, and cryptocurrencies for money laundering. A total of 1.1 million pounds were frozen in 15 bank accounts and 21 digital wallets. Cash and jewelry are also to be confiscated.

Brother Also Convicted

Woodward's brother Christopher (34) was also involved in the scheme. He received around 126,000 pounds and was sentenced to a 15-month suspended prison sentence. Additionally, he must perform 240 hours of community service.

Continuation Despite Investigations

Despite ongoing investigations, Stephen Woodward continued his business model. After his first arrest in 2019, he founded two new streaming platforms. During another house search in 2020, larger sums of cash were again secured.

Police Warn of Economic Damage

In addition to the prison sentence, the police also applied for a "Serious Crime Prevention Order" to restrict Woodward's activities after his release. The police emphasized that illegal streaming causes massive economic damage. According to the OECD, over 80,000 jobs are lost annually in the UK due to copyright violations.

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