A STOURBRIDGE man was among three people from the West Midlands recently prosecuted by the Environment Agency for fishing offences.

The cases were heard at Northampton Magistrates Court on August 22, 2024, with fines and costs totalling £517 imposed.

Lee Sillito, of Sensall Road, Wollescote, had his case proven in his absence for fishing without a licence at Wassell Grove Fishery, Hagley, on February 10, 2024.

The 34-year-old was fined £40 and ordered to pay costs of £65 and a victim’s surcharge of £16.

The other men prosecuted were: Josh Hubbard, aged 33, of Hoo Walk, Polesworth, Tamworth, who was fined £100 and ordered to £135 in costs and a £40 victim’s surcharge after admitting fishing without a licence at Riddings Fishery, Grendon, near Atherstone, on February 11, 2024.

Wojciech Gibowicz, aged 36, of Pickford Street, Birmingham, who admitted fishing without a licence at Lea Marston Settling Lakes near Kingsbury on February 11, 2024, as well as fishing at a private fishery at Lea Marston Settling Lakes.

He was fined £40 for both offences, ordered to pay costs of £65 and a £16 victim’s surcharge.

The Environment Agency said it was hoped the prosecutions would deter anyone thinking of breaking angling laws and bylaws.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “Such fishing 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 anglers fishing without valid licences.

“Such 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.

“Anyone with information about anglers fishing without a valid licence can contact the Environment Agency incident hotline 24/7 on 0800 807060 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”