A MAN who made £120,000 through an illegal code-sharing scheme has been ordered to repay the money.

The case against Gavin Gray was the first card-sharing conviction of its kind in Scotland.

The 27-year-old illegally sold decryption codes for premium Sky TV channels, including Sky Sports and Sky Movies.

He had been given the codes for his own personal use, but sold them to a list of 1,800 clients who paid £5 a month over a four-year period.

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Gray advertised his criminal business on dedicated card-sharing websites and forums.

When police searched his home, they seized £44,500 hidden in a safe in the loft and later seized a further £80,000 from his bank account.

A confiscation order for £128,670 was granted at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Tuesday (today).

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Procurator Fiscal for Specialist Casework, Liam Murphy, said: “Gray operated a large-scale, card-sharing scheme which defrauded a broadcaster out of more than £1 million over four years.

“Today’s result should serve as a warning to all criminals. We will not stop at prosecution. We will use the laws available to us to ensure money obtained through crime is confiscated from those who do not deserve it and reinvested into the community.”