A Knutsford man found guilty of fishing illegally at a mere has been fined £400.

On 9 November 2014 Joshua Egerton, 19, from 12 Churchfields, Knutsford was caught and later charged for illegally fishing at Booths Mere, a private fishery managed by Angling Trust members, Altrincham and District Angling Club.

Egerton appeared at Macclesfield Magistrates on 15 April 2015 and was found guilty for ‘unlawfully attempting to take fish in water in which there was a private right of fishery’. He was also found guilty as he ‘fished or took fish otherwise than in accordance with a licence by means of a rod and line’.

Egerton was he was fined £400 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £40 and pay costs of £85.00 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Cheshire Police Wildlife Crime Officer PC Jim Day said: “Police are taking positive action to support both the Environment Agency and the Angling Trust to tackle illegal fishing in the UK.“

Dilip Sarkar Angling Trust National Enforcement Manager said: “This is an excellent result and a great example of what we are all collectively achieving through the Fisheries Enforcement Campaign: raising awareness within the police service and beyond to the wider public, increasing confidence and intelligence – and all involved working together.

Cheshire Police have done a first class job with this – as too have CPS and the magistrates. This sends a very strong message out to would-be poachers: persist and you will get caught, be punished and have a criminal record. Times have changed – and all responsible, law-abiding, anglers welcome this.”