A man from Coalville, Leicestershire was found guilty of fishing illegally in a case brought by the Environment Agency.

Tyrone Eliffe, 27, of Burgess Road was found guilty in his absence at Northampton Magistrates Court last month.

The Gov.UK website reports that he received a total penalty of £443 for fishing without a licence at Riddings Fishery, in Grendon, Warwickshire.

The penalty includes a fine of £220, costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £88.

He was charged with offences committed last July in a place where fishing is regulated, fishing for freshwater fish or eels by means of an unlicensed fishing instrument, namely rod and line. Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

An annual fishing licence costs from £33.

Following the verdict, a spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: "We hope the penalty this illegal angler has received will act as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of breaking the laws and bylaws we have in place across England.

"Fishing illegally can incur a fine of up to £2,500 and offenders can also have their fishing equipment seized.

"We inspect rod licences seven days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing and for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.

"Illegal 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."

Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence to fish.

A one-day licence costs from £6.60, and an annual licence costs from £33.

The Environment Agency says licences are available HERE or by calling the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency incident hotline 24/7 on 0800 807060 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.