Yahoo News Stoke-on-Trent anglers named and shamed over £35 fishing error
Illegal anglers caught flouting fishing rules have been handed court bills topping £800 over a £35 error. Two men from Stoke-on-Trent were among punished by magistrates in separate cases over their illicit fishing habit.
The defendants - who were prosecuted by the Environment Agency - failed to get themselves a licence which costs as little as £35.80 a year. A one-day licence costs just £7.10.
The men were sentenced at Northampton Magistrates' Court. Stephen Hammersley, of Uttoxeter Road, Stoke-on-Trent, was convicted in his absence of fishing without a licence at Basford Pools on June 1, 2024.
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The 55-year-old was fined £220 and ordered to pay £135 costs , as well as an £88 victim surcharge. Stefan Jones, of Paynter Street, Fenton, admitted fishing without a licence at Sammie's Pool, Fenton on June 13, 2024.
The 25-year-old was fined £40 and ordered to pay costs of £45 and a £16 victim surcharge.
Any angler aged 13 or over, who plans to fish on a river, canal or still water needs a licence. An Environment Agency spokesman said: "We hope the penalties these illegal anglers have received will act as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of breaking the laws we have in place across England.
"Fishing illegally can incur a fine of up to £2,500 and offenders can also have their fishing equipment seized. We inspect rod licences 24/7, seven days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing and for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.
"Illegal fishing undermines the Environment Agency’s efforts to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable. Money raised from fishing licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries for the benefit of legal anglers."
Meanwhile, Grzegorz Merder, of Coddon Close, Telford, also admitted fishing without a licence at New House Farm, Church Stretton on June 1, 2024. The 48-year-old was fined £100 and ordered to pay £135 costs, along with a £40 victim surcharge.
