NINE hundred television licence dodgers have been caught in Burton and South Derbyshire this year, new figures reveal.
TV Licensing nabbed 570 people in Burton and 330 in South Derbyshire watching the box without a valid licence in the first 10 months of 2010, and has revealed some of the more bizarre excuses given for not owning a licence.
They included a man who didn’t pay up because when he called TV Licensing they ‘refused to barter with him’, a viewer who said their set didn’t work as a squirrel had urinated on it, and one who said her boyfriend had got drunk and eaten her payment card.
Enquiry officers also met with a shameless response from some licence dodgers, with one asking: ‘Can you call back later? I want to watch the end of this programme?”
TV Licensing spokesman Mark Whitehouse said: “No matter how creative people get with their excuses, watching or recording live TV without a licence is against the law.
“In fairness to those who pay the fee, we will prosecute those who try to avoid it, including the likes of the gentleman who refused to buy a licence unless we bartered with him. He was found guilty and fined by unimpressed magistrates.
“We’re effective at catching evaders, but we would always rather people pay than risk a fine of up to £1,000.
“To help those who may find it difficult to pay in one go, we offer a range of payment options to help spread the cost, all of which can be set up quickly and easily online or by phone if you prefer.”
Burton Magistrates’ Court deals with a steady stream of alleged licence fee evaders, including earlier this month animal rights activist Janet Tomlinson, who had an unusual excuse of her own for not paying up.
Ms Tomlinson, who was involved in protests against the former guinea pig breeding centre at Darley Oaks Farm in Newchurch, refused to renew her licence in protest against a BBC Crimewatch programme about the affair which she claimed unfairly maligned protestors.
She pleaded not guilty to licence evasion and is due to face trial on January 10.
Money experts advise those who do wish to pay to treat their TV licence as a priority debt alongside expenses such as mortgage or rent, council tax and utility bills.
Anyone who is struggling to pay is advised to contact charitable organisations such as the National Debtline or Citizens Advice Bureau.
