Pirate Radio Man Fined £1k
4th Apr 2003.
A Kingswinford man who was caught on video setting up equipment for a pirate radio station in Dudley has been stung with a £1,000 fine and 240 hours community punishment.
Scott Davis, of Kingswinford, pleaded guilty to managing an unlicensed broadcasting station at Dudley Magistrates’ Court.
Video footage of Davis installing radio transmitter aerials on a roof had been presented to the court as Davis had originally said, “he was only on the roof for the view.”
The 31-year-old, who had been running the illegal Groove FM from Porter Street, Dudley, was given the maximum 240-hour community rehabilitation order and made to pay £1,000 towards costs of the investigation on Wednesday March 26.
Andrew Hicks, aged 29, of Coseley, also pleaded guilty to managing an unlicensed broadcasting station and rendering a service to the management of an unlicensed broadcasting station.
He received a 200-hour community punishment order and was ordered to pay £1,000.
Davis and Hicks were among five apprehended following a successful Radiocommunications Agency Investigation into Groove FM. The other three were convicted at previous court hearings.
During the investigation unlicensed transmitters were traced, search warrants granted by Dudley Magistrates’ Court were executed and equipment was seized by the Radio Communications Agency and police officers.