Simon Hannigan, who has a large social media presence for his cooking videos, was today handed a suspended sentence after admitting to illegally streaming Sky TV
Simon Hannigan(Image: Instagram/dadthedish)
A TikTok chef with a following of half a million, has been given a suspended sentence after illegally streaming Sky TV to thousands of people. Simon Hannigan, from Stable Close, Kirkham, was handed the sentence at Preston Crown Court today (November 7) following a Sky-led investigation which found he had been distributing log-ins that provided access to over 3,500 channels.
From 2019 to 2022, it was revealed that Hannigan, who is well-known for his cooking videos under the username Dadthedish, used Facebook groups as a ‘shop window for his services’, with each group having thousands of members.
One group, named ‘Simon’, boasted a total of 4,775 members and operated by selling subscriptions, which then allowed users to stream television, films, sports and music channels through an Android app.
The court heard how Hannigan had previously bragged about his success in text messages, stating that ‘business was booming’ and ‘phones were blowing up’, even offering special deals to those who helped his business, reports Lancs Live.
After being arrested on March 23 2022, Simon admitted to providing links but denied breaching copyright laws, arguing he was not in control of the system. One of the ‘mother systems’ used to stream the operation was based in Europe, serving 50 million people worldwide.
Simon’s prices included full services for £50 a year, or £28 for 6 months. A financial investigation revealed that he had been encouraging customers to send him money using the reference ‘paid adverts’.
A thorough analysis of his bank account discovered that 2,644 payments had been made under this reference, amounting to £151,112.
In conjunction with other transfers which matched the same sum of money, the combined total was at least £152,000, a figure which Hannigan accepted.
Described as a ‘proud family man’, the 35-year-old confessed that he was distributing the links but was not operating the business, merely acting as a ‘downstream middle man’.
During mitigation, it was disclosed that prior to embarking on the business venture, Hannigan had been hospitalised after suffering a burst appendix and was in a ‘very bad way’, returning from hospital to discover his partner had left him after having an affair with his friend.
Finding himself in ‘dire financial straits’ and recuperating from ‘severe hospital treatment’, he asked on Facebook if there were any jobs available and stumbled upon this business venture, initially starting with friends and family and then escalating with the Facebook groups.
Upon arrest, he immediately admitted to selling the streams and expressed relief that it could now stop due to the stress it had caused him as he was finding the toll ‘very difficult’.
The court was told that since his arrest, Hannigan had ‘turned his life around’ by setting up his business ‘Munchieboxuk’, which supports local takeaways by selling their food with lower fees than other delivery services.
He also claimed to be a ‘changed man’, using his Dadthedish accounts on Instagram and TikTok to share budget-friendly recipes.
Now, he has offered to help Sky News and the British Copyright Council to help ‘put people off’ what he did, and ‘stop people being put in the same position’.
Hannigan pleaded guilty to participating in fraudulent business as a sole trader, concealing and transferring criminal property, and providing a service contrary to copyright laws.
As a result, he received a two-year sentence suspended for 24 months, along with 250 hours of unpaid work.