40 TV LICENCE DODGERS IN COURT

TV OWNERS in Hastings were stung with thousands of pounds in fines after being caught without a licence.

Forty residents appeared in Hastings Magistrates Court on Monday, facing fines of up to 1,000.

Sophie Griffiths, TV Licensing spokesman, said: "The number of people up in court in Hastings should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks they can get away with it - they can't. The message is crystal clear - if you don't have a licence when you need one you risk a trip to court and a fine of up to 1,000.

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"It's not worth the risk - evaders know who they are and so do we."

Over the summer months, officers visited unlicensed addresses across the Hastings area as part of a crackdown during major sporting events - including Euro 2004, Wimbledon and the Olympics.

Licensing officers were able to tell whether a television was being used in an unlicensed property using their database of more than 28 million addresses and state-of-the-art detection equipment.

Two thirds of the TV watchers caught without a licence were women - the vast majority of those being in their 20s.

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Three residents up in court came from Farley Bank, two from Crowborough Road, two from London Road, two from Pevensey Road and another two from Milward Road. The rest were discovered in all corners of Hastings and St Leonards.

Ms Griffiths said: "We always prefer people to buy a licence rather than face prosecution and for people who would prefer not to buy the licence in one lump sum there are many different ways to pay."

Anyone who uses or installs television-receiving equipment to watch programmes without a licence is breaking the law. Any licence evader caught risks a criminal conviction and a fine of up to 1,000, plus court costs and they still need to get a TV licence, costing 121. TV owners on benefit who find it a struggle to pay the lump sum, can spread the cost of the licence, making weekly payments of 5 at a post office. Call 08457 289 289 for details.

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