Pirate radio pair found in raid

Two teenagers who were "foot soldiers" for a Midland pirate radio station were caught during a raid on a makeshift studio, a court heard.

Kriss FM attracted complaints from listeners of BBC WM who were unable to hear shows clearly because of interference caused by the illegal station. Jamie Lee Price, of Tansley Hill Avenue, Dudley, and Leighton Cooper, of St Giles Close, Rowley Regis, were both given a conditional discharge for their involvement in the station by Dudley Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Price, aged 19, pleaded guilty to using wireless technology to make a broadcast and supplying an unauthorised sound recording. Cooper, aged 19, pleaded guilty to supplying an authorised sound recording.

Mr Lester Maddrell, for Ofcom, said officers from the communication industries regulator tracked down the signal to premises in Hall Street, Dudley, where they found the defendants when they carried out a raid on October 11.

He said: "They were only involved in the station for a brief period last Autumn. They could be described as the foot soldiers of the operation."

The court heard Kriss FM, which broadcasts on 95.3, had been operating for around 10 years and had attracted "a large number of complaints" from listeners of BBC WM, which broadcasts on 95.6.

Chairman of the bench, Mr Eric Stevens gave Price a18-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £1,200 costs. Copper received a 12-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £1,000 towards costs.

Warrants were also issued for the arrest of Paul Jonathan Lawrence, aged 20, of Granville Drive, Kingswinford, and Liam Christopher Lawrence, aged 19, of Stourbridge Road, Dudley, who failed to turn up for their court date.

Both men are charged with using wireless technology to make a broadcast and supplying an unauthorised sound recording.