Mark Gould, the leader of the illegal streaming service Flawless, was ordered in May 2026 to forfeit the proceeds of his criminal activities and return £2.35m within three months or face a further prison sentence of 10 years by Derby Crown Court.
The total sum of £3.75m, ordered to be paid back by the five defendants, is the second-largest figure ever ordered in the UK against the operators of an illegal streaming service. The money will now be distributed into the public purse through the Treasury, courts and relevant law enforcement bodies.
Gould’s confiscation order followed similar proceedings against four other defendants from the Flawless case who were ordered to pay back a total of more than £1.4m or also risk further prison sentences.
Doug Love, Principal Trading Standards Investigator at Hammersmith & Fulham Council said: “(This) is a fine conclusion to an investigation that started in 2017. It is essential that offenders whose greed leads them to commit offences are deprived of profiting from their crimes. Anyone tempted to commit similar offences should be deterred by the record prison sentences and the size of the confiscation orders in this case.”
The original case
In May 2023, a group of five individuals responsible for operating Flawless were convicted of providing illegal access to Premier League matches and sentenced to more than 30 years in prison. The illegal streaming business involved over 50,000 customers and resellers, as well as 30 employees. Gould, who led the operation, was originally sentenced to 11 years in prison.
That case, and the subsequent confiscation proceedings, were privately prosecuted by the Premier League and supported by a number of organisations including Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s Trading Standards team and the intellectual property protection organisation, FACT. The investigation and prosecution uncovered significant evidence of other offending, with two of the defendants subsequently being charged with criminal offences unrelated to piracy.
In a separate 2024 case, Paul Merrell, a reseller of the Flawless IPTV service received a 12-month jail sentence, and was ordered by the Birmingham Crown Court to return £91,243.
Why it matters
“These confiscation proceedings demonstrate our determination to ensure those involved in providing illegal streaming services do not retain the profits from their criminal activity,” said Stefan Sergot, Director of Legal – Enforcement for the Premier League.
“This was a hugely challenging case, and we are extremely grateful for the hard work and expertise of the authorities who supported us in drawing it to a conclusion. The sentences handed down, and the funds confiscated in these proceedings, vindicate the efforts made to bring these individuals to justice and reflect the severity and extent of the crimes,” said Director Sergot.
Further reading
Illegal streaming service Flawless ordered to repay £3.75m. Statement. May 1, 2026. The Premier League
UK: Premier League, FACT, tout 30 years of jail terms for band of pirates – the longest ever. Article. May 30, 2023. by Steven Hawley. Piracy Monitor
UK: Individual gets prison, fined for promoting and selling illegal Flawless streaming service. Article. February 6, 2024. by Steven Hawley. Piracy Monitor
