Pirate fans celebrate court fight

Cecil Morris: cleared of pirate radio charges Pirate fans celebrate court fight (June 1986) THERE were scenes of jubilation outside Birmingham Victoria Law Court? yesterday as supporters of a pirate community radio station celebrated their 'victory'.   Cecil Morris, accused of running the People's Community Radio Line, had been cleared by magistrates of a charge of using radio and broadcasting equipment without a licence.  The 39-year-old from Dudley Road, Edgbaston, announced this was "a step forward for community radio" and said it was a triumph for all supporters of PCRL.   He said the station, which plays music mainly for the benefit of the West Indian community, had applied to the Home Office for an official licence and planned to send a petition to Downing Street with the aid of local MPs.   In court, Miss Rosemary Cox, prosecuting, said Department of Trade officials raided the station based in a flat in Dorset Tower, Edgbaston, last July after tracing radio signals. She said officials found a transmitter on the roof of the flat and a number of men, including Mr Morris, in a living room with radio equipment.   She said Mr Morris had admitted to running PCRL.   Mr Morris told the court he was an innocent bystander when the raid was made. He said: "I do not have a licence to run a radio station. I do not run a radio station.   A charge that he had installed the radio equipment at the flat was also dismissed by magistrates.