Three Pikes and You’re Out! Angler Banned

Three pikes and you’re out! Serial offender banned from the riverbank

An illegal angler will find himself more than just hundreds of pounds out of pocket today after the persistent offender was banned from fishing for two and a half years.

Khan Marshall, 21, of Temple Dene Avenue, Staines appeared before Woking Magistrates Court on 9 February 2007. He was fined £ 200 for leaving a rod unattended and a further £ 200 for fishing with three rods but only holding a single licence. He was also ordered to pay the maximum £ 70 costs to the Environment Agency for both cases.

In a rare move reserved for persistent offenders Mr Marhsall was banned by the court from holding a rod licence for the next two and a half years after taking into account a string of prosecutions dating back to 2002.

The court heard that on the 10 July 2006 Mr Marshall had left his rod unattended at Twynersh Fishing Complex in Chertsey, Surrey, contrary to a national byelaw. A month later on 13 August Environment Agency enforcement officers discovered Mr Marshall at the same fishery using three rods but with only a single rod licence which contravened section 27(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

Fisheries enforcement officer Graham Haynes, said: “Mr Marshall has a long history of floating the laws of fishing in this country. From his first warning letter in 2002 he has appeared before magistrates three times for failing to hold a £ 24 rod licence and giving false names and addresses to officers, racking up a total of £ 650 in fines and costs.

“It is very rare for an angler to be banned from holding a rod licence, but this extreme measure was taken because of Mr Marshall’s persistent offending. If he is caught fishing within those two and a half years he can not only expect his equipment to be confiscated but he will also find himself with another day in court.

“Those who fish without a licence are not only risking hefty fines, they are also cheating their fellow anglers and the future of angling. Fisheries laws are in place to protect the environment, so they must be adhered to.”

The Environment Agency puts all money raised from rod licences straight back into fisheries work, which helps to protect the environment.