AN illegal CB radio user was caught after neighbours complained of television interference.

Kevin Gallery, who was operating without a CB licence, landed before Chorley Magistrates Court.

He was given a 12-month conditional discharge after being convicted of the unlicensed use of Citizens Band radio apparatus, contrary to Section (1) of the Wireless and Telegraph Act 1949.

The prosecution was brought by the Radiocommunications Agency - an Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry, which is responsible for enforcing wireless telegraphy legislation in the UK.

Mr Gallery, aged 43, of Mavis Drive, Coppull, who broadcast in the Coppull area, pleaded guilty to the charge.

He was ordered to pay £136 costs and a forfeiture order was issued for seizure of equipment, including a CB radio transmitter and an amplifier.

Monitoring in the Mavis Drive area started after a number of telephone calls were received complaining of television interference.

A strong radio transmission was traced to Mr Gallery's home address and on arrival there, Radicommunications Agency investigators found a large aerial suitable for Citizen's Band, was mounted at the rear of the house.

No CB licence was on record for the address. A search warrant was obtained and executed on August 11 last year when a CB transmitter was found, which had been modified to cover more channels than are allowed in this country.

The transmitter was also connected to an amplifier to increase the legal power of four watts up to 35 watts.

Mr Gallery subsequently obtained a CB licence on August 19.

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