AN ANGLER has pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence at Harvington near Evesham on the River Avon.
Jacek Lewandowski, 33, of Frankton Close, Redditch, was fined £129 and ordered to pay £135 costs and £103 victim’s surcharge.
He also admitted removing bream contrary to byelaws and was fined a further £129.
In all he was ordered to pay a total of £496.
Nichola Tomlinson, fisheries enforcement team leader for the Environment Agency in the West Midlands, said: “The cases show how seriously the courts take these offences and these anglers have been rightly punished for the illegal fishing they undertook.
“Fishing illegally can incur a fine of up to £2,500 and offenders can also have their fishing equipment seized.
“We inspect rod licences 24/7, seven days-a-week to check on cases of illegal fishing.”
Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can call the 24/7 Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 807060 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
