Prosecutions

The Angling Trust encourages all anglers to comply with the law and buy an Environment Agency rod licence at www.gov.uk/fishing-licences/buy-a-fishing-licence

The funds raised from licence sales are spent on improving fish stocks and promoting angling, including several programmes of work delivered by the Angling Trust itself.

This data is provided periodically by the Environment Agency, and only refers to prosecutions of anglers that were conducted by courts in England in the months stated.

It does not include resolutions by way of cautions, warning letters or advice and guidance letters.

November 2025 – January 2026
Total fines for November – January: £12,018
Average fine: £300

November:

Hull Magistrates’ Court (SJP):

Adam Marks (32) of Ensign Court, Thirsk was fined £75 and a victim surcharge of £15 Fishing for freshwater fish or eels otherwise than by means of a licensed instrument on 05 May 2025 at Woodlands Lake.

Jevgenijs Ivanovs (41) of Waverley Avenue, Doncaster was fined £195 and a victim surcharge of £15 Fished for freshwater fish in the close season on 05 May 2025 at Hexthorpe, River Don.

Russell Nippers (25) of Saxon Avenue, Doncaster was fined £75 and a victim surcharge of £15 Fished for freshwater fish in the close season on 22 May 2025 at Sprotborough, River Don.

Duncan Clark (42) of The Parkside, Hexham was fined £115 and a victim surcharge of £15 Fished for freshwater fish in the close season on 24 May 2025 at Low Prudhoe – River Tyne.

Duncan Clark (42) of The Parkside, Hexham received no separate penalty and ordered to pay £35 Used an illegal lure or bait on 24 May 2025 at Low Prudhoe – River Tyne.

Mansfield Magistrates’ Court:

Sorin Alexandru Cosieru (34) of Carlton Street, Mansfield was fined £268 and a victim surcharge of £15 for leaving a rod and line with its bait or hook in the water unattended on 24 May 2025 at Hackett Lakes, Holme Pierrepont.

Northampton Magistrates’ Court (SJP):

Jake Lester (28) of Catherton, Telford was fined £175 and a victim surcharge of £15 Fished for freshwater fish in the close season on 11 May 2025 at Jackfield – River Severn.

Jordan Mortin (28) of Fellside Green, Eccleshall was fined £355 and a victim surcharge of £15 Fishing for freshwater fish or eels otherwise than by means of a licensed instrument on 24 May 2025 at Baden Hall Fishery.

Ben Dooley (22) of Water Street, Eccleshall was fined £355 and a victim surcharge of £15 Fishing for freshwater fish or eels otherwise than by means of a licensed instrument on 24 May 2025 at Baden Hall Fishery.

Ewan McKevitt (26) of Langdale Street, Eccleshall was fined £355 and a victim surcharge of £15 Fishing for freshwater fish or eels otherwise than by means of a licensed instrument on 24 May 2025 at Baden Hall Fishery.

SJP Midlands:

Lee Brooks (58) of Winchester Court, Newark on Trent was fined £355 and a victim surcharge of £15 Fished for freshwater fish in the close season on 04 May 2025 at R Trent Crankley Point.

William Bernard (59) of Greenside, Newark on Trent was fined £355 and a victim surcharge of £15 Fishing for freshwater fish or eels otherwise than by means of a licensed instrument on 04 May 2025 at R Trent Crankley Point.

Telford Magistrates’ Court:

Billy Munro (22) of Hayman Road, Ironbridge was fined £175 and a victim surcharge of £15 Fishing for freshwater fish or eels otherwise than by means of a licensed instrument on 17 May 2025 at Ironbridge – River Severn.

Laurence Mansfield (21) of Southwood Grove, Ironbridge was fined £355 and a victim surcharge of £15 Fishing for freshwater fish or eels otherwise than by means of a licensed instrument on 17 May 2025 at Ironbridge – River Severn.

Warrington Magistrates’ Court:

Michael Todd (44) of Lucerne Road, Preston was fined £575 and a victim surcharge of £15 Fishing for freshwater fish or eels otherwise than by means of a licensed instrument on 14 May 2025 at River Ribble.

Michael Todd (44) of Lucerne Road, Preston was fined £355 and a victim surcharge of £15 Fished for freshwater fish in the close season on 14 May 2025 at River Ribble.

December:

Beverley Magistrates’ Court:

Dylan Coyle (aged 22) of Hathersage Road, Hull was fined £355 for unlicensed fishing on 27 June 2025 at Fossehill Shooting Ground, Brandesburton, near Beverley.

Doncaster Magistrates’ Court:

Trent Hardy (aged 37) of Handsworth Road, Sheffield was fined £315 for fishing for freshwater fish in the close season on 15 June 2025 at the River Don, HMP Doncaster.

Simon Reardon (aged 34) of Ayton Walk, Doncaster was fined £301 for unlicensed fishing on 28 June 2025 at Carcroft Lily Pond, Doncaster.

Harrogate Magistrates’ Court:

Allan Chatten (aged 60) of Prospect Cottages, York was fined £281 for leaving a rod and line with its bait or hook in the water unattended on 26 June 2025 at Topcliffe – River Swale, near Topcliffe.

Hull Magistrates’ Court (SJP):

Josh Murray (aged 29) of Castlefields, Leeds was fined £401 for fishing with multiple rods more than three metres apart on 19 June 2025 at Newhay Lakes, Selby.

Northampton Magistrates’ Court (SJP):

Spencer Kendall (aged 21) of Arborfield Close, Peterborough was fined £701 for unlicensed fishing on 25 May 2025 at Lovells Lake, Tallington.

Jamie Baker (aged 29) of Horsfall Road, Sutton Coldfield was fined £575 for unlicensed fishing on 31 May 2025 at Cannon Bridge Fishing, Madley.

Petrisor Ion (aged 52) of Oakwood Road, Smethwick received no separate penalty and was ordered to pay £135 for unlicensed fishing on 10 June 2025 at Birmingham Canal, Birmingham.

Maru Ion (aged 21) of Oakwood Road, Smethwick was fined £355 for removal of freshwater fish from stillwaters and canals on 10 June 2025 at Birmingham Canal, Birmingham.

Teeside Magistrates’ Court:

Martyn Harris (aged 34) of Sandy Leas Lane, Stockton-on-Tees was fined £355 for fishing for trout otherwise than by means of a licensed instrument on 10 June 2025 at Skelton Beck – River Tees, Middlesbrough.

Warrington Magistrates’ Court:

Oliver Hunter (aged 23) of Lever House Lane, Leyland was fined £256 for unlicensed fishing on 1 June 2025 at Vernons Lodge, Penwortham.

Przemysław Macniak (aged 43) of Oldham Street, Manchester was fined £575 for fishing for freshwater fish in the close season on 17 May 2025 at the River Mersey, Woolston, Warrington.

Przemysław Macniak (aged 43) of Oldham Street, Manchester was fined £256 for unlicensed fishing on 17 May 2025 at the River Mersey, Woolston, Warrington.

At Warrington Magistrates’ Court (SJP), Przemysław Macniak (aged 43) of Oldham Street, Manchester received no separate penalty and was ordered to pay £135 for unlicensed fishing on 17 May 2025 at the River Mersey, Woolston, Warrington.

At Warrington Magistrates’ Court (SJP), Pawel Kopiszka (aged 31) of Broughton Street, Manchester was fined £795 for removal of eels or shad by rod and line on 17 May 2025 at the River Mersey, Woolston, Warrington.

At Warrington Magistrates’ Court (SJP), Pawel Kopiszka (aged 31) of Broughton Street, Manchester received no separate penalty and was ordered to pay £135 for using a keepnet of less than 2 metres in length on 17 May 2025 at the River Mersey, Woolston, Warrington.

January:

At Carlisle Magistrates’ Court, Scott Millar (aged 42) of Barward Road, Galston, was prosecuted for Unlicensed Fishing for Salmon at Longtown, River Esk on 29/07/25 and was ordered to pay £175.

At Carlisle Magistrates’ Court, David Graham (aged 40) of Loudoun Road, Newmilns, was prosecuted for Unlicensed Fishing for Salmon at Longtown, River Esk on 29/07/25 and was ordered to pay £175.

At Hull and Holderness Magistrates’ Court, Ashley Hutchinson (aged 39) of Egton Street, Hull, was prosecuted for Unlicensed Fishing at Far Ings Ponds on 14/01/26 and was ordered to pay £355.

At Hull and Holderness Magistrates’ Court, Darren Leeson (aged 39) of Gatwick House, Hull, was prosecuted for Unlicensed Fishing at Far Ings Ponds on 14/01/26 and was ordered to pay £355.

At Hull and Holderness Magistrates’ Court, Nicky Allison (aged 37) of Westcott Street, Hull, was prosecuted for Unlicensed Fishing at Far Ings Ponds on 14/01/26 and was ordered to pay £355.

These cases highlight the importance of adhering to national and regional byelaws to protect fisheries and maintain sustainable angling practices.

Data Licence:
The Limited Licence granted by the Angling Trust to use the information on this web page will automatically expire 3 calendar months from the date that it is first uploaded to the Angling Trust website. For the avoidance of doubt this varies the limited licence described elsewhere in this website’s Limited Notice.

Monthly Fisheries Prosecutions.
Frequently Asked Questions and Glossary of Terms

FAQs
1. I didn’t know about the court hearing date, what can I do? You can contact the Magistrates Court and ask for the case to be re-opened. www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts

Why are the outcomes different for the same offence? At each hearing, the Magistrates take into consideration: the facts of the case, the attitude of the offender, any mitigation offered by the offender and their ability to pay any financial punishment.

Glossary of Terms:

‘Penalty’ The penalty is what offender has to pay. It comprises the sum of the fine for the offence committed; a contribution to the Environment Agency costs; the Criminal Court Charge and a victim surcharge. The fine and victim surcharge is decided by the Magistrates hearing the case on the day. Fines go to the treasury. Costs go to the Environment Agency and contribute to the cost incurred in taking the case to court. Victim Surcharge goes to a specific fund for victims of crime. See: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk/sentencing/victim-surcharge.htm

‘Proof in Absence’ The defendant did not enter a plea at the time their case was heard. The Court convicted the person in their absence.

‘Absolute Discharge’ The defendant is guilty but no fine is imposed

‘Conditional Discharge’ The defendant is guilty but no fine is imposed. There are conditions attached to the discharge: if re-offending occurs within the period of the discharge, the defendant can be sentenced for the original offence and the new one.

‘forfeiture order’ Equipment used in the offence is taken from the defendant and destroyed.

‘disqualification order’ The defendant is disqualified for a period of time, from holding or obtaining a fishing licence. You can’t fish during the period of disqualification.

Offence Code and Laymans Terms

OF329: Using more than one rod and line when fishing for Salmonoids in all rivers, streams, drains and canals
OFB08: Exceeded the 3 metre distance between rods
OFB10: Leaving Rod(s) and Line(s) unattended
OFNB2 (2): Fishing for Trout in the Close Season
OFNB3 (3): Removed eels or shad by rod and line from any waters
OFNB5: Use of a keepnet less than 2 metres in length
OFNB8: Fishing with more than four rods and lines at the same time when fishing for coarse fish or Eels
OFNB100: Fishing for freshwater fish in the close season
OFNB107: Exceeding the 3 metre distance between rods when fishing with multiple rods and lines
OFNB114: Leaving rod(s) and line(s), with bait or hook, in the water unattended
OFRB5 (North East): Used an illegal lure or bait
OFRB7: During the close season fished for Salmon, migratory Trout or non migratory Trout, other than with artificial fly or lure
OFRB8 (Southern): Used an illegal lure or bait
OFRB18 (1): Use of fish as bait in Lake District
OFRB18 (2A): Use of an illegal hook bait in the Lake District
OFRB20: Using a keep net to retain fish during the statutory close season for coarse fish
OFRB216:Using an illegal lure or bait
TA002: Person who unlawfully takes, destroys or attempts to take/destroy any fish in water which is private property
WRA041: Fishing in a prohibited area
WRA034: Removed any listed freshwater fish by rod and line from any river, stream or drain, or listed water