WIREDGOV

Eight men from the West Midlands have been found guilty of fishing illegally in multiple cases brought by the Environment Agency.

• Multiple fishing offences have cost nine anglers from the West Midlands fines of £1584, plus costs and victim surcharges
• Stoke on Trent angler received a fine of £440 for fishing without a licence, fishing in the close season and for taking or destroying fish
• Other fishing offences include leaving a rod and line unattended in the water

Eight men from the West Midlands have been found guilty of fishing illegally in cases brought by the Environment Agency at Northampton Magistrates Court on Monday 3 June 2024. 

And at Derby St Mary’s Magistrates Court on 10 June 2024, a man from Stoke on Trent received a fine of £440, costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £176 after being proven guilty in absence of three cases of illegal fishing.

Kevin Broomfield, 35, of Bartholomew Road, Stoke on Trent received the fine for fishing without a licence, fishing for brown trout in the close season and for taking or attempting to take or destroy fish at the River Wye, Bakewell in Derbyshire on 23 October 2023.

Eight men from the West Midlands received fines of £1,144 for offences including fishing without a licence and leaving their rod and line unattended in the water.

Dean Freeman, 41, of Wantage, Telford, was proven guilty in absence of fishing without a licence at Marchamley Pool, Hodnet on 31 January 2024.  He received a fine of £220, costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £88.

Reece Hogg, 21, of Lower Birches Way, Rugeley was proven guilty in absence for leaving his rod and line unattended in the water on 27 January 2024 at Baden Hall Fishery, Eccleshall. He received a fine of £220, costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £88.

Adam Cornwall-McGowan, 33, of Hunter Road, Cannock pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence at Bishton Pools, Bishton, Rugeley on 28 January 2024.  He received a fine of £166, costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £66.

Wayne Martin, 43, of Coppice Road, Madeley, Telford pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence at Baden Hall Fishery, Eccleshall on 27 January 2024.  He received a fine of £158, costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £63.

Aaron Kimberley, 30, of Treynham Close, Wolverhampton pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence at Monument, Shifnal, Shropshire on 10 February 2024.  He received a fine of £50, costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £20.

Joshua Adam Salt, 22, of Coleridge Road, Stoke on Trent, pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence at Baden Hall Fishery, Eccleshall, Staffordshire.  He received a fine of £230, costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £92.

Reece Webb, 23, of Deansfield Road, Wolverhampton pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence and leaving his rod and line unattended in the water at Monument, Shifnal, Staffordshire on 10 February 2024.  He received a fine of £40, costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £16.

Ritchie Hennessey, 33, of Turfpits Lane, Birmingham was proven guilty in absence to fishing without a licence at Buzzard Valley Fishery, Tamworth, Staffordshire on 18 June 2023.  He received a fine of £60, costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £24.

Nichola Tomlinson, Fisheries Enforcement Team Leader at the Environment Agency said:

“These cases show how seriously the courts take illegal fishing and we hope the penalties these illegal anglers have received will act as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of breaking the laws and byelaws that are in place across England.

“We inspect rod licences 24/7 to check on cases of illegal fishing, and for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute. Anyone found fishing illegally may receive a fine of up to £2,500.  Offenders can also have their fishing equipment seized.

“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.

“Our Fisheries Enforcement Officers, with support by partners including the police and the Angling Trust, carry out intelligence-led enforcement work all year round targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported.

“We urge anyone with information about illegal fishing to contact us on 0800 807060 or via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence. A 1-day licence costs from just £7.10 and an annual licence costs from just £35.80. Concessions are available. Junior licences are free for 13 to 16-year-olds.

Licences 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.

Kevin Brownfield was charged with the following offences:                               

On the 23rd day of October 2023 at Bakewell – River Wye, Bakewell in a place where fishing is regulated, fished for trout by means of an unlicensed fishing instrument, namely rod and line. Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

On the 23rd day of October 2023 at Bakewell – River Wye, Bakewell fished for brown trout in the close season contrary to National Byelaw 2 of the Environment Agency Byelaws made on 12 July 2010 made pursuant to sections 210 and 211 Schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991.

On the 23rd day of October 2023 at Bakewell – River Wye, Bakewell took or destroyed or attempted to take or destroy any fish in the water which is private property or in which there is any private right of fishery contrary to Section 32 and paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 1 of the Theft Act 1968 as amended by section 228 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

Dean Freeman was charged with the following offence:

On the 31st day of January 2024 at Marchamley Pool, Hodnet in a place where fishing is regulated, fished for freshwater fish or eels by means of an unlicensed fishing instrument, namely rod and line. Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

Reece Hogg was charged with the following offence:

On the 27th day of January 2024 at Baden Hall Fishery, Eccleshall left a rod and line with its bait or hook in the water unattended or so that the person shall be unable at any time to take or exercise sufficient control over said rod and line. Contrary to Byelaw 10 of the Environment Agency National Byelaws which came in to force on 27 May 2001 made pursuant to Section 210 and Schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991 and Contrary to Section 211 of the said Act.

Adam Cornwall-McGowan was charged with the following offence:

On 28th day of January 2024 at Bishton Pools, Bishton, Rugeley in a place where fishing is regulated, fished for freshwater fish or eels by means of an unlicensed fishing instrument, namely rod and line. Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

Wayne Martin was charged with the following offence:

On 27th day of January 2024 at Baden Hall Fishery, Eccleshall in a place where fishing is regulated, fished for freshwater fish or eels by means of an unlicensed fishing instrument, namely rod and line. Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

Aaron Kimberley was charged with the following offence:

On 10th day of February 2024 at Monument, Shifnal in a place where fishing is regulated, fished for freshwater fish or eels by means of an unlicensed fishing instrument, namely rod and line. Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

Joshua Adam Salt was charged with the following offence:

On 27th day of January 2024 at Baden Hall Fishery, Eccleshall in a place where fishing is regulated, fished for freshwater fish or eels by means of an unlicensed fishing instrument, namely rod and line. Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

Reece Webb was charged with the following offence:

On 10th day of February 2024 at Monument, Shifnal in a place where fishing is regulated, fished for freshwater fish or eels by means of an unlicensed fishing instrument, namely rod and line. Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

On 10th day of February 2024 at Monument, Shifnal left a rod and line with its bait or hook in the water unattended or so that the person shall be unable at any time to take or exercise sufficient control over said rod and line. Contrary to Byelaw 10 of the Environment Agency National Byelaws which came in to force on 27 May 2001 made pursuant to Section 210 and Schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991 and Contrary to Section 211 of the said Act.

Ritchie Hennessey was charged with the following offence:

On the 18th day of June 2023 at Buzzard Valley Fishery, Tamworth in a place where fishing is regulated, fished for freshwater fish or eels by means of an unlicensed fishing instrument, namely rod and line. Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.