Anglers sentenced for illegal fishing across the South and South West

They were sentenced at Swindon Magistrates Court earlier this month (January 8)

Author: Oliver MorganPublished 18th Jan 2024

Nearly a dozen anglers, including a man from Chard, have been fined for illegal fishing across the South and the South West.

The 11 men were sentenced earlier this month (January 8) at Swindon Magistrates Court for not having a licence - and fined for a total of £4,135.

The Environment Agency say the money raised from selling their licences is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries.

Those prosecuted and fined were:

  • Joshua Cooper, 19, of Warren Avenue, Southampton, was found guilty in his absence of fishing without a licence at Highbridge, River Itchen, Eastleigh. He entered no plea and was fined £220 and ordered to pay costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £88
  • Hajri Karoshi, 53, of Yeftly Drive, Littlemore in Oxford, pleaded guilty to 2 offences. He was fined £51 for fishing without a licence and £54 for fishing during the annual close season at Hockley, River Itchen, Winchester. He was also ordered to pay costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £43
  • William Manning, 27, of Sleaford Road, Beckingham in Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence at River Test, Southampton, and was ordered to pay a total of £268, consisting of a £95 fine, £135 in costs and a £38 victim surcharge fee
  • Oakley Bedford, 23, of Beaufort Road, Havant, in Hampshire, was ordered to pay a £128 fine after he pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence at Sinah Warren, Havant. Bedford was also made to pay £135 in costs and a victim surcharge of £51
  • Neculai Mocanu, 53, of Hounslow Road, Feltham, Middlesex, pleaded guilty after he was found fishing at The Malms at the River Itchen, Winchester, in the close season. He was made to pay a total of £191, including a £40 fine, £135 in costs and a victim surcharge of £16
  • Petro Petrascu, 47, of New Chapel Square, Feltham, pleaded guilty to fishing at The Malms at the River Itchen, Winchester, during the close season. He was fined £330 and paid £135 in costs as well as a £132 victim surcharge fee
  • Patrick Taylor, 25, of Harlaxton Road, Grantham, in Lincolnshire, did not enter a plea when he was found to be fishing without a licence at River Test, Totton. In his absence, he was ordered to pay a fine of £220, plus a £88 victim surcharge and costs of £135
  • Adam Taylor, 27, of London Road, Ashford, Middlesex, was found guilty in his absence of fishing without a licence at River Farm, Fareham. He was ordered to pay £433 in total, including a fine of £220, a £88 victim surcharge and costs of £135
  • Astrit Veshi, 49, of Rivermead Road, Oxford, was found guilty in his absence of 2 offences at Hockley, River Itchen, Winchester. These offences were fishing without a licence and fishing during the annual close season for freshwater fish. He was fined £440 for the two offences and ordered to pay £135 in costs and a £176 victim surcharge
  • Andon Xhika, 36, of Cranmer Road, Oxford, pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence and fishing during the annual close season at Hockley, River Itchen, Winchester. He paid a total of £387, including £90 fine for each offence, £72 victim surcharge and £135 in costs
  • Harry Burston, 30, of Hazelmere, Otterford, Chard, was found guilty in his absence of fishing without a licence at the Chard Reservoir. He was fined £220 and ordered to pay £135 in costs and a £88 victim surcharge fee

James Allan, an Environment Agency fisheries enforcement officer, said: "Money raised from fishing licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries, benefitting anglers and, for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.

"These anglers disregarded signs at the fisheries that said an Environment Agency rod licence was needed to fish.

"Rod fishing byelaws are there to protect fish stocks and their habitats. If you do not comply with these byelaws you could face prosecution and be fined up to £2,500."

Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence - which you can find out more about here.

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