A Clacton man took more than £72,000 by selling “loaded” Fire TV Sticks that gave illegal access to premium TV streams, then walked free with a suspended sentence. Aaron Smith, 41, advertised the devices to more than 540 people using WhatsApp and Facebook from as early as October 2020, taking a yearly fee to keep the unofficial streams running. Essex Police said the operation continued despite a warning. In December 2023, officers sent Smith a cease-and-desist letter spelling out the offences involved in accessing illegal streaming services. A year later, police moved in. Smith sold Fire TV Stick sets for £80, Essex Live reported via court coverage, with an additional £75 subscription renewal each year. He also offered “troubleshooting” when the illegal streams failed. Police traced hundreds of payments linked to the devices into Smith’s bank accounts and obtained an Account Freezing Order under the Proceeds of Crime Act to freeze funds believed to be criminal property. Officers seized his laptop and phone at his Clacton home in December 2024. Messages on the phone showed Smith advertising the sticks from October 2020. The laptop contained conversations about selling the devices, payment details, and posters promoting the service. Smith was charged with money laundering and sale or hire of an article infringing copyright. He pleaded guilty to both offences at Chelmsford Crown Court on July 21. On October 15, he was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years, along with 150 hours of unpaid work and 30 hours of rehabilitation activities. Proceeds of Crime hearings will now decide what can be confiscated.