Television Fraud Charges

Three men have been arrested as part of an investigation by Derbyshire police into television fraud.

Officers executed a warrant at a house in Fernwood Close, Littleover, Derby on Tuesday February 2^nd 2011.

The warrant was part of an investigation into a conspiracy to defraud Virgin Media by enabling access to TV content without payment.

Detective Sergeant Graham Prince, of Pear Tree CID, said: “We have been working closely with Virgin Media as part of an investigation into TV fraud. It is alleged that this is a key part of an operation to defraud Virgin Media.”

Malcolm Davies, Virgin Media’s head of fraud and security said: “We take this matter extremely seriously and will continue to work closely with all the police forces throughout the UK to prosecute individuals connected with this type of TV fraud.

“We urge anyone with information about people supplying or using illicit equipment to receive Virgin Media TV channels to continue to call our confidential hotline on 0800 096 7800.”

A 47-year-old man, a 33-year-old man and a 60-year-old man were arrested. Following interview they were all charged with conspiracy to defraud.

They appeared in court this morning, the two older men were bailed, the younger remanded into police custody.