“UK Radio” closed after 23 years!!
A Bilston man was fined £250 costs and given a 12-month conditional discharge at Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court on April 3rd, 2000 for using radio equipment in contravention of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949.
The prosecution against Roy John Wedge, aged 39 of Prouds Lane Bilston was brought by the Radiocommunications Agency. Wedge pleaded guilty on two charges of illegal broadcasting. The court approved an application from the Agency for the forfeiture of all seized goods, amounting to £l,500 of equipment.
The pirate station known as UK Radio began its transmissions as far back as 1977. Broadcasting on the short, AM and FM wave bands, sometimes simultaneously. The Radiocommunications Agency became aware of the illegal broadcasts in 1989, but because of their irregularity, were unable to pinpoint exactly where they came from. As part of their enquiries, they searched Wedge’s home on November 28th and found documents and equipment relating to the station.
Roy John Wedge pleaded guilty to the following charges:
a) That he participated in the Management of an unlicensed radio broadcast station in contravention of Section 1 (C) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1949.
b) That he broadcast using radio equipment in contravention of Section 1 (A) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949.
LPWS NOTE: The DTI claim that this station was broadcasting as far back as 1977 would make Roy Wedge only 16 when he started, we say “Bloody well done mate” or is this another case of the DTI “Dirty Tricks” department at work?
This article has been taken from the Laughing Policeman Wireless Society.
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