A CHINGFORD man who operated a pirate radio station from his home which interfered with TV signals has been fined.

Paul Hampshire, of York Road, appeared at Waltham Forest Magsitrates' Court yesterday where he admitted setting up Unknown FM.

He was fined £350 and told to pay more than £5,000 court costs.

Ofcom was alerted when several residents in South Chingford called to complain that their satellite televisions could not pick up BBC1 and BBC2.

Ofcom investigated and tracked down a rogue microwave signal that was causing the interference.

Using specialist kit the signal was traced to the undercover base of the illegal broadcast station on York Road.

Ofcom officers carried out a search warrant at the address on July 17. They found Hampshire - the DJ at the station - along with the illegal broadcast kit.

All the equipment was disconnected and the intereference to the local residents stopped.

Yesterday Hampshire pleaded guilty in court to sections 36 and 37 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006.

When sentencing the magistrates ordered Hampshire to pay a fine of £350, and to pay costs of £5,648.50, and a £15 surcharge.

An Ofcom spokesperson said: “Ofcom is very pleased with this result. In the past six months we’ve received several hundred complaints relating to pirate radio.

"The vast majority of these come from consumers, who complain about illegal broadcasts drowning out legitimate stations.

"Other complaints come from local authorities complaining of pirates causing damage to property – typically the rooftops of tower blocks – and the emergency services – who pick up interference from pirates on their radios.

“Thanks to the swift work of Ofcom’s enforcement team, the interference in south Chingford has now been stopped, the offending equipment seized and the culprit brought to justice.”

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