‘Social recluse’ jailed for six-year online piracy scam

The sentence handed down to a social recluse whose internet piracy scam put the movie industry at risk of losing stg£120m should act as a warning to others engaged in such crimes, a judge said.

Paul Mahoney, aged 29, from Derry, made around £280,000 (€385,000) through advertising revenue generated from his illegal websites offering access to films and TV shows — many before general release. During the six-year period he operated the racket, the partially blind loner claimed around £12,000 in benefits.

Mahoney, who was sentenced at Derry Crown Court having pleaded guilty earlier to a series of offences — including conspiracy to defraud the film industry — will spend two years behind bars before being released on licence for two further years.