He was not a pirate operator. He was only using a receiver and trying to tune in radio Luxembourg. There is a nice article here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-515138/FOUND-Radio-Hams-sensational-tape-bank-heist-rescued-compromising-pictures-Princess-Margaret.html The article states that he was a ham; but at the time he was just acting as a shortwave listener.