On October 2, 34 year-old Nishan Silva of Hitchin was sentenced to three years in prison following an investigation into an illicit IPTV service operating under the names Andy UTV and Ultimate TV Service, which offered cheap access to premium TV channels and on-demand content.
Previously, Mr. Silva had pleaded guilty to distributing an article infringing copyright and two counts of acquiring or using criminal property.
According to a news release from PIPCU, the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit of the City of London Police, the court heard that Silva, who previously worked as an accountant, had been involved in running the illegal subscription-based platform which provided illegal access to a number of streaming services, including Sky channels.
“Silva was a highly intelligent accountant who abused both his expertise and trusted position to commit serious criminality,” said Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt of PIPCU.
Police investigation
An investigation began after Sky referred concerns about the IPTV service to police. Investigators established that the platform had approximately 2,600 followers who paid for the service via online payment platforms, using fake personal details.
Financial investigators uncovered that one account received £256,725.96 since its creation, and had £125,940.99 withdrawn, including £20,100 that was transferred directly to Silva. The account also held funds used for maintaining servers and running the IPTV service
Two bank accounts linked to the same scheme were also discovered to have been opened using fraudulently obtained identity documents.
Mr. Silva will now be subject to action under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover the stolen funds.
Why it matters
“This activity should serve as a reminder that PIPCU will pursue criminals who seek to profit from illegal streaming and disrupt their operations,” said Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt.
“This is a crime that diverts funds away from the entertainment industries – money that supports thousands of technical and support staff. At the same time, it exposes end users to the risks of data theft, fraud and malware.
Further reading
Ex-accountant jailed for running illegal IPTV streaming service. Press release. October 6, 2025. PIPCU (Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit of the City of London Police)
