Anglers from across the West Midlands have landed penalties totalling thousands of pounds for fishing illegally. 

Nine anglers, including one from Bromsgrove, have been ordered to pay a total of £3,983 after they were caught fishing illegally by officers from the Environment Agency. 

The cases were heard separately at Northampton Magistrates Court on Monday, January 15 and involved anglers from Telford, Rugeley, Hall Green, Bromsgrove, Bilston, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Leamington Spa. 

Fisheries Enforcement Team Leader at the Environment Agency, Nichola Tomlinson, said: "We hope the penalties that these illegal anglers have received will act as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of breaking the laws and byelaws 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 24/7, 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."

Luke Thompson, aged 34, of Sandy Lane, Bromsgrove, was ordered to pay a total of £751 for fishing without a licence at Jam Factory Pools near Worcester on June 17 2023. 

His case was proven in his absence after he did not return a plea. 

Brett Tranter, aged 34, of Hill Crest Road, St Georges, Telford, did not enter a plea and had his case proven in his absence for fishing without a licence at Gailey Lower Reservoir, Cannock, on August 26 2023. 

He was ordered to pay a total of £443. 

Daniel Tonks, aged 30, of Hawkley Road, Wolverhampton, was ordered to pay £443 for fishing without licence. 

Ion Zuber, aged 36, of Bell Tower Close, Walsall, was found to be fishing without a licence and fined £220. 

Steve Donnor, aged 42, of Park Gate Road, Rugeley, was ordered to pay £443 after he was caught fishing without a valid licence. 

Maciej Zaprawa, aged 42, of Redland Road, Leamington Spa, did not return a plea for fishing without a licence and was fined £220. 

Mindaugus Ciuzelis, aged 32, of Overdale, Telford, pleaded guilty to fishing without a valid licence and was fined £146. 

Lucian Firici, aged 44, of Stratford Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to fishing without a valid licence and was ordered to pay £338. 

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.