A man has been fined £660 for illegally fishing at a fishering in Standlake.

Samuel Franks, of Stepping Stones Road, in Coventry, was caught without a valid Environment Agency rod licence while he was at Linch Hill Fishery in Standlake.

He was also ordered to pay £127 in costs and a £66 victim surcharge after the case went before Banbury Magistrates Court yesterday and was proved in his absence.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "Money raised from rod licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries, benefiting all anglers. "We hope that this case will provide yet another deterrent for any angler thinking of fishing illegally.”

As well as cheating other anglers, fishing illegally can carry a hefty penalty. Getting caught without an appropriate licence could land you with a fine of up to £2,500.