A former Punch host whose pub showed Premiership football using a domestic card has avoided conviction.
Ken Hadley was found not guilty of dishonest reception of television transmission after arguing that he was not aware the domestic card was being used.
Magistrates in Redditch, near Birmingham, heard that inspectors from the Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact) found that a domestic card was used to screen games at the King's Arms in Redditch on two occasions in September and December 2006.
My solicitor argued that to be guilty I had to be aware of it, and I wasn't aware of itKen Hadley
Hadley, who was the premises licence holder of the King's Arms at the time, told the court that members of staff had organised for the games to shown using the domestic card and he was not at the pub when matches were screened.
Hadley, who left the King's Arms in August, told the MA: "I spoke to staff and they admitted they did it. My solicitor argued that to be guilty I had to be aware of it, and I wasn't aware of it. I'm extremely relieved."
The MA has reported several cases this year of licensees being fined thousands of pounds, and even having their personal licences revoked or suspended, for screening Sky in pubs using domestic cards.
Stephen Gerrard, prosecuting manager at Fact, which brought the prosecution, said there are more than 60 prosecutions for the offence in the pipeline for this year.
He said: "We accept the court's decision. This is one case, one of many. It won't affect our long-term strategy. We will carry on prosecuting people we find screening football illegally."
Victory for SkyProsecutors against illegal Sky screenings in pubs claimed a 2-1 victory last week.
Two hosts were forced to pay more than £5,000 each for screening Premiership football in their pubs using Sky domestic cards - the day after Ken Hadley escaped conviction.
Patricia Stapleton of the Hope Inn, Hithermoor Road, Staines, pleaded guilty to three offences of breaching the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts by showing games without a commercial licence.
She was fined £5,000, with £846.05 costs, at Staines Magistrates.
Joseph Simmons of the Park Tavern, Passey Place, Eltham, London, was fined £4,500, with £710.42 costs, at Greenwich Magistrates for three offences.
Stephen Gerrard of Fact said: "Case after case demonstrates how we are successfully pursuing and prosecuting those licensees who are fraudulently showing Sky programmes in their premises."