15/11/2005 - Thirteen anglers caught illegally fishing in Dorset in a bank holiday blitz by the Environment Agency, have been fined and ordered to costs totalling £2,300. Environment Agency teams carried out spot checks around the county between 26 April and 2 May 2005 as part of a region-wide crack down on illegal angling. All of the offenders pleaded guilty today at Wimborne magistrates. Brett Andrews, 39, of Meadowside Cottage, Kingston Banyard, Winterbourne Kingston, was found at the River Piddle, Wareham on 26 April 2005. He was fishing for freshwater fish during the closed season and also failed to state his name and address to a water bailiff. These are both offences under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. Andrews was fined £100 for the first offence, £50 for the second plus £70 costs. Richard Brown, 53, of Chelmsford Avenue, Romford, Kent was caught at Bascombe Lake, Wimborne on 30 April, 2005. He was using three rods which requires two fishing licences yet he did not have one.

Brown was fined £150 and ordered to pay £70 costs. The following were all charged with illegally fishing with an unlicensed rod: Roderick Pearce, 29, of Fitzharris Avenue, Charminster was found on 30 April 2005 at Whitmoor Lake, Wimborne. He was fined £80 plus £70 costs. The others were fined £100 each plus £70 costs each for illegally fishing with an unlicensed rod: Andrew Beggs, 22, and David Beggs, 24, both of Leigh Road, Wimborne were discovered at Crooked Willow Farm Lake, Wimborne on 30 April 2005. Robert Jupe, 32, of Cornish Gardens, Bournemouth was found on Bank Holiday Monday, 2 May 2005 at Gold Oak Farm, Cranborne. James Clifton, 30, of Dunnock Close, Ferndown and John Davidson, 35, of Belle Vue, Southborne, Bournemouth were both caught on 2 May 2005 at Whitmoor Lake, Wimborne. Continued….

Thirteen illegal anglers fined after Environment Agency blitz/2 Martin Hazell, 46, of Druitt Road, Christchurch, who was found at Crooked Willow Farm Lake, Wimborne on 2 May. Giles Ferre, 21, of Cereleton Park, Charlton Marshall, Blandford, Jamie Bates, 21, of Elizabeth Road, Blandford and Samantha Dawson, 38, of Hawthorne Road, Winton, Bournemouth were all caught on 2 May at Gold Oak Farm, Cranborne And, David Fripp, 40, of Hanham Road, Corfe Mullen at Clump Hill Farm, Wimborne, also on 2 May. Environment Agency officers are able to access databases from mobile phones to verify addresses and licence details, making catching licence evaders a straightforward process. Kevin Parsons from the Environment Agency said: ‘It is disappointing to find such a large number of illegal anglers in our local fisheries.

Law abiding anglers, who are in the majority, will be dismayed to hear about these offenders. ‘The money raised by the rod licence goes towards improving habitats and encouraging new people into the sport. It is a small price to pay for a large benefit to anglers.’ Buying a licence couldn’t be easier – there are around 17,000 Post Offices and other outlets which sell them direct, or for a small additional charge they can be purchased over the phone (0870 1662662) or from this website – www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fish Rod licences are available from: 1. Every Post Office in England and Wales 2. By telephone (for Full and Junior Concessionary licences only) on 0870 1662 662 3. On-line (for Full, Junior Concessionary, 8-day and 1-day licences only) 4. Through Direct Debit (for Full and Concessionary licences only). There is also a Direct Debit helpline on 01925 542500.