ELEVEN men – including three from Oxford - were convicted for illegal fishing practices.
The men were sentenced at Swindon Magistrates Court on January 8 and were ordered to pay £4,135 in total.
Hajri Karoshi, 53, Astrit Veshi, 49, and Andon Xhika, 36, all pleaded guilty for fishing without a licence in various places across the UK.
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Karoshi, of Yeftly Drive, Littlemore, was fined £51 for fishing without a licence and £54 for fishing during the annual close season at Hockley, River Itchen, Winchester. He was also ordered to pay costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £43.
Veshi, of Rivermead Road, Oxford, was found guilty in his absence of two offences at Hockley, River Itchen, Winchester. These offences were fishing without a licence and fishing during the annual close season for freshwater fish. He was fined £440 for the two offences and ordered to pay £135 in costs and a £176 victim surcharge.
Eight anglers from Hampshire, Middlesex and Oxford fined a combined £1,800 for not having rod licences.
— Environment AgencySE (@EnvAgencySE) January 17, 2024
Licences help keep rivers and fisheries healthy and well-stocked with fish.
Get yours here: https://t.co/5Za5X97VX5#legalnews #getfishing
Pic: Illegal angler gets caught https://t.co/PuXOfd4XKt pic.twitter.com/offCq1NLdK
Xhika, of Cranmer Road, Oxford, pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence and fishing during the annual close season at Hockley, River Itchen, Winchester. He paid a total of £387, including £90 fine for each offence, £72 victim surcharge and £135 in costs.
Eight other men were also sentenced.
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Joshua Cooper, 19, of Warren Avenue, Southampton, was found guilty in his absence of fishing without a licence at Highbridge, River Itchen, Eastleigh. He was fined £220.
William Manning, 27, of Sleaford Road, Beckingham in Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence at River Test, Southampton, and was ordered to pay a total of £268.
Oakley Bedford, 23, of Beaufort Road, Havant, in Hampshire, was ordered to pay a £128 fine after he pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence at Sinah Warren, Havant.
Neculai Mocanu, 53, of Hounslow Road, Feltham, Middlesex, pleaded guilty after he was found fishing at The Malms at the River Itchen, Winchester, in the close season. He was made to pay a total of £191.
Petro Petrascu, 47, of New Chapel Square, Feltham, pleaded guilty to fishing at The Malms at the River Itchen, Winchester, during the close season. He was fined £330.
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Patrick Taylor, 25, of Harlaxton Road, Grantham, in Lincolnshire, did not enter a plea when he was found to be fishing without a licence at River Test, Totton. In his absence, he was ordered to pay a fine of £220.
Adam Taylor, 27, of London Road, Ashford, Middlesex, was found guilty in his absence of fishing without a licence at River Farm, Fareham. He was ordered to pay £433 in total.
Harry Burston, 30, of Hazelmere, Otterford, Chard, was found guilty in his absence of fishing without a licence at the Chard Reservoir. He was fined £220.
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