Disgraced former police officer jailed for £2m illegal TV streaming operation

Manchester Crown Court heard how Aimson sold illegal devices which bypassed paid-for TV, costing legitimate service providers millions of pounds.

Around 1,600 of the devices were sold in a period of less than a year, with the huge profits being transferred to various bank accounts in a complex effort to prevent the tax authorities spotting the illegal activity.

Aimson, who is from Astley, is already behind bars for conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and misconduct in a public office.

His latest sentence, which was handed down on Monday, was set by the judge to run consecutively following his current punishment.

In 2017 GMP launched a joint investigation alongside the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) into Aimson, who was serving in the force at the time.

Investigations confirmed Aimson, 38, was involved in managing a company that produced Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) devices that allowed access to content like sport and films that typically require a monthly subscription.

The company also sold streaming services allowing anything between 48 hours to six months access to paid-for content. The pass enabled the viewer to log on to an online portal where paid-for content was available without the need for a physical IPTV device.

Financial intelligence quickly identified bank accounts linked to the company to which thousands of pounds were being transferred in an effort to conceal the proceeds from their illicit business.

Over a seven-month period between January to August 2017, the turnover for just one of the accounts linked to the company was in excess of £300,000, none of which was declared to HMRC.

Further analysis of the account revealed that between September 2016 and May 2017, approximately 1,640 illicit IPTV devices were sold.

On September 5 2017 Aimson was arrested at his home address on Ulleswater Road and a number of items were recovered implicating him in the fraud.

He was immediately suspended from his role with the police.

A satellite TV provider who did a cost analysis of Aimson’s illicit activities deemed that the loss to their company alone was more than £924,000.

The loss to the same satellite TV provider from Aimson’s online portal streaming service was estimated to by £1,200,000.

Detective Constable Paul Bayliss of GMP said: “Aimson was making enormous amounts of money from what he knew to be an illegal activity.

“He was a police employee with a good career. That is now in tatters and he’s facing a lengthy prison sentence during which to contemplate his foolish and deceitful actions.

“I’d like to thank our partners at FACT whose hard work and diligence helped us bring the prosecution.

“This type of crime costs legitimate companies millions each year in loss of revenue, which ultimately results in a loss to the exchequer.

“This sentencing should serve as a message to those who think they can access or provide such content without consequences: you are breaking the law, costing the country money and we will do everything in our power to prosecute such offending.”

FACT chief executive Kieron Sharp said: “This result is an excellent example of the serious actions taken against those who provide illicit content through streaming services.

“Individuals are motivated by the financial benefits from providing illegal content, but FACT is leading the way in combatting digital piracy and has worked closely with Greater Manchester Police to hold these suppliers accountable for their actions.

“We thank Greater Manchester Police for their work on this and FACT will continue to monitor channels used to advertise, market, sell and distribute apps, devices and streams to take action against suppliers and operators."

A second former police employee, Martyn Foster, from Stott Wharf in Leigh, has also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and will be sentenced later this month.

The ex-vehicle cleaner for the force is currently suspended from duty and will face a Professional Standards Branch hearing.

Anyone who sees content that doesn’t look legitimate should contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or filling out the online form at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information.