Written By: E.A. Press Officer
On Date: 30/11/2005
Anglers caught and fined in north and south Wales
34 anglers were ordered to pay a total of over £4,500 in fines and costs at Magistrates' Courts last week, for fishing without rod licences. The prosecutions were brought by Environment Agency Wales. A day licence to fish for coarse fish and non-migratory trout costs just £3.
Fishing without a licence is an offence under Section 27(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 (SAFFA'75).
At Chester Magistrate's Court on 21 November 2005:
The following were all fined £50 each and ordered to pay £70 costs each. All pleaded guilty by letter.
Darren Abbot of Grizedale, Hough Green, Widnes, fishing at Burton Mere on 30 April 2005.
Martin Dowler of Rice Lane, Wallasey, Liverpool, Kevin O'Hare of Dyson Street, Walton, Liverpool and James Salmon of Angus Road, West Derby, Liverpool. All fishing at Burton Mere on 29 May 2005.
David Evans of Marina Village, Preston Brook, Lancashire, fishing at Cheshire Fisheries, Tattenhall on 28 May 2005.
Jim Hudson of Ballantrae Road, Allerton, Liverpool, fishing at Milton Green Fisheries, Tattenhall on 29 May 2005.
Nicholas Hughes of Farm Drive, Connah's Quay, Matthew Johnston of Redruth Road, Croxteth, Liverpool, Raymond Leitch of Haddon Road, Lowton, Warrington, Nigel Pratt of Humber Crescent, Sutton Leach, St. Helens, Matthew Stubbs of Shavington Avenue, Hoole, Chester and Terry Swatton of Wicket Close, Croxteth, Liverpool. All fishing at Cheshire Fisheries, Tattenhall on 30 April 2005.
Luke Jackson of Southway, Blacon, Chester, Robert Leyland of Laird Close, Birkenhead, Wirral and James Rae of Peckforton Way, Upton, Chester. All fishing at Milton Green Fisheries, Tattenhall on 30 April 2005.
Kevin Lawes of Forest Court, Prenton, Birkenhead, Matthew Smith of Stanton Drive, Upton, Chester and Ricky Talman of Saughall Massie, Upton, Birkenhead. All fishing at Cheshire Fisheries, Tattenhall on 29 May 2005.
Also:
Richard Rimmer of Market Street, Stoneclough, Radcliffe, Manchester fishing at Burton Mere on 29 May 2005 also pleaded guilty by letter. He was fined £75 with costs of £70.
The following were found guilty in their absence, were all fined £100 each and were ordered to each pay £70 in costs:
Joseph Baillie of Chapel Avenue, Walton Vale, Liverpool, Lee Guy of Portbury Way, New Ferry, Wirral, Christopher Harvey of Garston Old Road, Liverpool and Lawrence Titchiner of Heol Heddwch, Abergele, Conwy. All fishing at Milton Green on 29 May 2005.
Peter Bryson of Forest Court, Oxton, Wirral fishing at Cheshire Fisheries on 28 May 2005.
Darren Pidgeon of Poplars Avenue, Orford, Warrington and Gary Walker of Statham Avenue, Orford, Warrington. Fishing at Milton Green on 29 May 2005.
Shaun Ray of Amaury Road, Thornton, Liverpool fishing at Burton Mere on 30 April 2005.
Andrew Stott of Wellington Close, Bebbington Wirral and Andrew Thomas of Church Terrace, Tranmere, Birkenhead . Fishing at Milton Green on 28 May 2005.
At Merthyr Tydfil Magistrate's Court on 23 November 2005:
Phillip Hinton of Plymouth Street, Merthyr Tydfil was seen fishing at Llwyn-On Reservoir on 1 May 2005. He pleaded guilty by post and was fined £80 with £70 costs.
Anthony Maloney of Aneurin Crescent, Twynyrodyn, Merthyr Tydfil was seen fishing at Llwyn-On reservoir on 30 April 2005. The case was proved in his absence and he was fined £100 with £70 costs.
Peter Owen of Twyn Carmel, Merthyr Tydfil and Simon Moore of Belle Vue Street, Trecynon, Aberdare had both been seen fishing at Llwyn-On Reservoir on 30 April 2005. Both men pleaded guilty by post and were each fined £70 and ordered to pay £70 each in costs.
Darran Preece of Vicarage Terrace,Treorchy, Rhondda was seen fishing at Llwyn-On Reservoir on 9 May 2005. He pleaded guilty by post and was fined £70 with £70 costs.
Following the cases an Agency spokesperson commented: 'The income from rod licence sales is re-invested in improvements to fisheries. Those who seek to avoid paying for a licence are depriving their fellow anglers of this much-needed income. Why risk a fine? Buy a licence before starting to fish. Our enforcement officers will continue to carry out checks, and we will prosecute offenders as necessary.
Fishing without a licence