A PUB boss has been cleared of illegally showing live football matches after her father admitted in court he was to blame.

Nicola Powell was prosecuted by the Federation Against Copyright Theft after investigators found BT Sport matches being shown at the Barnstormers pub in Lostock Lane on three occasions last year.

But Bolton magistrates were told by Ms Powell’s father, James Powell, that she was the designated premises supervisor in name only and it was he who arranged for the domestic Virgin Media service from his flat above the pub to be extended into the bar area.

The court heard that James Powell took over running the pub in 2010 but, because he did not have a pub licence and would have to go on a two-day course in order to obtain one, his daughter took on the role of designated premises supervisor.

Mr Powell told the court that his 34-year-old daughter, who lives at Fearnhead Avenue, Horwich, had been ill with depression and her pregnancy and had no involvement in the running of the business.

"We hadn't got on for a while. Even if she had been fit for work it wouldn't have happened. We never really spoke over these last couple of years," he said.

Mr Powell said that he had arranged for the the domestic BT Sports to be extended into the bar area and knew it was dishonest but he was unable to afford the Sky Sports commercial service he had previously used.

"At the time I believed it would increase trade because people would come in and watch football," he said.

After investigators visited the pub and saw BT live matches being shown on February 8, August 30 and September 13 last year, letters were sent to Ms Powell at the pub, as the person legally in charge, warning her that she faced prosecution if she did not stop.

But her father told the court he did not open them or pass them on to her and he was only aware of the prosecution in March this year when a court summons arrived for Ms Powell.

Magistrates accepted that Ms Powell, who had denied two charges of dishonestly receiving a programme with intent to avoid payment, was not aware that the football was being illegally shown in the pub and she was found not guilty.

The court heard that the Virgin Media service to the pub has been disconnected and Mr Powell took over being the designated premises supervisor from his daughter last month.

The time limit for Mr Powell to be criminally prosecuted for the offence has expired.