Anglers fined almost £8,000 for fishing without a licence

Staffordshire anglers are among those hit with fines and costs during a series of court cases this week.

A total of 11 anglers, including two from Staffordshire, had cases against them proved in their absence at Northampton Magistrates Court after the Environment Agency brought cases against them - and were hit with fines totalling almost £8,000 between them.

Those ordered to pay fines and costs from Staffordshire were Jack Capper, aged 20, of Brookland Cottages, Colclough Lane, Goldenhill, and Gary Traynor, aged 34 of Greenside, Yarnfield who were both caught fishing without a licence at Baden Hall Fishery in Eccleshall on July 22 last year.

Both were fined £440 and ordered to pay costs and victim surcharges totalling £171.47.

A spokesperson from the Environment Agency said: “An annual fishing licence costs just £30, yet a small number of anglers continue to flout the law and risk prosecution for fishing without a licence and breaching byelaws in place to protect fish stocks.

"It’s important anglers have a licence before fishing; the money from licences is invested into England’s fisheries and rivers; improving the sport of angling.

"Anglers should also ensure that they are familiar with our byelaws, which are available on the Environment Agency web pages"

The other cases were:

Christopher Downing, 29, of Lucknow Road, Willenhall, who was charged with fishing without a licence and failing to state his name and address when required to do so by a fisheries bailiff at Lunt Pool, Bilston, on 24 July last year. He was fined a total of £880 and ordered to pay costs and victim surcharge totalling £193.47.
Jobe Cresswell, 22, of Hobs Road, Wednesbury,and Callum Mcmanus, 23, of Richards Street, Wednesbury were each fined £440 and ordered to pay costs and victim surcharge totalling £171.47 for fishing without a licence at Baden Hall Fishery, Eccleshall.. All of the offences took place on 22 July 22 2018.
Three people were each fined £440 and ordered to pay costs and victim surcharge totalling £161.47 for fishing without a licence at Cudmore Fisheries, Whitmore, also on July 22 2018. They are: John Short, 55, of Lunn Avenue, Manchester, Raymond Young, 34, of Hurstbourne Avenue, Manchester, and Conor Thompson, 21, of Ripon Close, Liverpool.

Adrian Statham, 27, of Park Lane, Madeley, Telford, and 37-year-old Jamie Falconer of Hayward Avenue, Donnington, Telford, were both charged with fishing without a licence and leaving a rod and line with bait or hook in the water unattended at Middle Pool, Telford, on August 18 last year. Statham was fined a total of £660, plus costs and victim surcharge totalling £171.47 and Falconer was fined £440 and ordered to pay costs and victim surcharge totalling £157.47.
Kenny Wilkes, 32, of Bassett Road, Wednesbury, was fined £440 and ordered to pay costs and victim surcharge totalling £171.47, for fishing without a licence on the Tame Valley Canal in Wednesbury, on 20 July 2018.
In addition, magistrates also fined Adam Parry, 38, of Hampden Close, Brierley Hill, a total of £400, plus costs and victim surcharge totalling £157.47 after he submitted a plea of guilty to offences committed on August 9 2018. He was charged with fishing without a licence on the River Severn at Holt Fleet and with failing to give his name and address when required to do so by a bailiff.