Part 2Networks, services and the radio spectrum

Chapter 1Electronic communications networks and services

Offences relating to networks and services

126Possession or supply of apparatus etc. for contravening s. 125

1

A person is guilty of an offence if, with an intention falling within subsection (3), he has in his possession or under his control anything that may be used—

a

for obtaining an electronic communications service; or

b

in connection with obtaining such a service.

2

A person is guilty of an offence if—

a

he supplies or offers to supply anything which may be used as mentioned in subsection (1); and

b

he knows or believes that the intentions in relation to that thing of the person to whom it is supplied or offered fall within subsection (3).

3

A person’s intentions fall within this subsection if he intends—

a

to use the thing to obtain an electronic communications service dishonestly;

b

to use the thing for a purpose connected with the dishonest obtaining of such a service;

c

dishonestly to allow the thing to be used to obtain such a service; or

d

to allow the thing to be used for a purpose connected with the dishonest obtaining of such a service.

4

An intention does not fall within subsection (3) if it relates exclusively to the obtaining of a service mentioned in section 297(1) of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (c. 48).

5

A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—

a

on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both; and

b

on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine, or to both.

6

In this section, references, in the case of a thing used for recording data, to the use of that thing include references to the use of data recorded by it.