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- All cases to be heard at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on 19 December 2022
- Fisheries enforcement officers crack down on illegal angling to protect fish stocks and make fisheries sustainable
Seven men and crew from Staffordshire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands, along with one man from Cheshire, pleaded guilty to fishing illegally on separate occasions earlier this year. Their cases were brought by the Environment Agency at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Monday 19 December.
Christian Harold, 46, of Halford Street, Tamworth, was found guilty of fishing without a license on 19 June 2022 at Fisherwick Fishery in Lichfield, Staffordshire. He was found guilty in absentia and ordered to pay fines totaling £295. Penalties include a £150 fine, £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
In a separate case Stephen Arthur, 35, of Heron Street, Stoke-on-Trent, was found guilty of fishing without a license at Basford Pools, Cheddleton, Staffordshire on 27 August 2022. He was ordered to pay the total fine. £345, including a fine of £150, costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £60.
Jack Devine, 25, of Burford Close, Willenhall, West Midlands, pleaded guilty to fishing without a license on 7 July 2022 at Baden Hall Fishery, Eccleshall, Staffordshire. He was ordered to pay fines totaling £297 including penalties. £116, costs of £135 and victim surcharge of £46.
Craig Hayden, 32, of Easthorpe Road, Birmingham, also pleaded guilty to fishing without a license at Fisherwick Fishery in Lichfield, Staffordshire on 19 June 2022 and was ordered to pay a total of £297, including a £116 fine. £135.00, and a victim surcharge of £46.
Aiden Meehan, 30, of Heath End Road, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, was found guilty of fishing without a license on 2 July 2022 at Dave’s Pool, Wolway. He was ordered to pay a total of £345 in fines, including a £150 fine, £135 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Jamie Park, 33, of Hales Gardens, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to fishing without a license on 7 July 2022 at Baden Hall Fishery, Eccleshill, Staffordshire. He was ordered to pay a total fine of £345, including a £345 fine. 150, costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £60.
David Richardson, 30, of Walsall Road, Great Wyrley, West Midlands, was found guilty of fishing without a license on 27 August 2022 at Chorley Springs, Burntwood, Staffordshire. He was ordered to pay a total fine of £345. , which includes a £150 fine, £135 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Carl Melia, 63, of Drury Close, Crewe, pleaded guilty to fishing without a license on 7 July 2022 at Baden Hall Fishery, Eccleshill, Staffordshire. He was ordered to pay a total fine of £345, including a fine of £150, costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £60.
Nicola Tomlinson, fisheries enforcement team leader at the Environment Agency, said:
These 8 anglers have been sentenced this summer for illegal fishing, and the case shows how seriously the courts take these crimes. We hope that the fines received by illegal anglers will act as a deterrent to anyone who would consider breaking the laws and bye-laws we have put in place across England.
Fishing illegally can result in fines of up to £2,500 and offenders can also have their fishing equipment confiscated. We monitor rod licenses 24/7, 7 days a week to investigate cases of illegal fishing.
Illegal fishing undermines the Environment Agency’s efforts to conserve fish stocks and make fisheries sustainable. Money raised from fishing license sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries for the benefit of anglers and, we will always prosecute those who cheat the system.
Any angler 13 years of age or older, fishing on a river, canal or still water requires a fishing license. A 1-day license costs just £6, and an annual license is currently just £30 (concessions available). Junior licenses are free for 13 to 16-year-olds. Licenses are available from www.gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence or by calling the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386 between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday.
The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work throughout the year and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust. Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported.
Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency’s incident hotline 24/7 on 0800 807060 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Background
Christian Harold was charged with the following offences:
Fishing for freshwater fish or eels by unlicensed fishing instruments, such as rod and line, on 19 June 2022 at Fisherwick Fishery, Lichfield, where fishing is regulated. Contrary to section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.
Stephen Arthur was charged with the following offences:
Fishing for freshwater fish or eels by unlicensed fishing gear, such as rod and line, on 27 August 2022 at Basford Pools, Cheddleton, where fishing is regulated. Contrary to section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.
Jack Devine was charged with the following offences:
Fishing for freshwater fish or eels by unlicensed fishing instruments, such as rod and line, on 7 July 2022 at Baden Hall Fishery, Eccleshall, where fishing is regulated. Contrary to section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.
Craig Hayden was charged with the following offences:
On 19 June 2022 at Fisherwick Fishery, Lichfield, where fishing is regulated, had an unlicensed fishing instrument, such as a rod and line, intended to be used for fishing, contrary to section 27(1)(a) Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.
Aidan Meehan was charged with the following offences:
Fishing for freshwater fish or eels by unlicensed fishing instruments, such as rod and line, on 2 July 2022 at Dave’s Pool, Wolwe, where fishing is regulated. Contrary to section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.
Jamie Park was charged with the following offences:
Fishing for freshwater fish or eels by unlicensed fishing instruments, such as rod and line, on 7 July 2022 at Baden Hall Fishery, Eccleshall, where fishing is regulated. Contrary to section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.
David Richardson was charged with the following offences:
On 27 August 2022 at Chorley Springs, Burntwood, in a place where fishing is regulated, fishing by means of unlicensed fishing instruments, such as rod and line, for freshwater fish or eels. Contrary to section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.
Carl Melia was charged with the following offences:
On 7 July 2022 at Baden Hall Fishery, Eccleshall, in a place where fishing is regulated, fishing for freshwater fish or eels by means of unlicensed fishing instruments, such as rod and line. Contrary to section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.
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