A Croydon pub landlord has been prosecuted for showing live televised football matches without the correct licence.

Danny Foley, landlord of the Selhurst Arms pub in South Norwood, has been ordered to pay Sky TV £2,100 in fines and £591.35 in costs after pleading guilty to the fraudulent reception of a television transmission, contrary to the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts (1988).

The hearing, which was held at Croydon Magistrates' Court last Tuesday, saw Mr Foley prosecuted for showing televised football matches with a domestic Sky viewing card, instead of the correct Sky business commercial viewing contract.

FACt said the prosecution was part of Sky's commitment to crack down on landlords who show satellite football matches in their pubs without the correct licence.

Jim Angell, FACT director of operations, said: "Working together with Sky we continue to pursue and prosecute those licensees who are fraudulently showing Sky programmes in their premises."

A Sky spokesman said: "This prosecution reflects how seriously the courts take this matter. We are committed to protecting the interests of our legitimate pub customers by undertaking a number of activities that ultimately can lead to prosecution of premises who choose to enjoy the benefits of Sky without the proper commercial contract.

"Our investigators visit licensed premises continually and we fully support FACT's efforts to prosecute licensees who break the law."

After the case Foley said he intended to lodge an appeal. He also claimed to be unaware of changes to his existing licence and that only two games were shown without the correct contract.

He said: "My wife noticed a fall in our bill but we had cancelled some channels, so we presumed it was that.

"I pleaded guilty to it because, yes, I did unknowingly show two games, but in my eyes I've done nothing I would class as criminal. I admitted to the fact those games were shown with the mitigating circumstance that out contract had changed without us knowing."