He told the inspector he'd watched Match of the Day, & pleaded guilty at court. Fine/costs/surcharge add up to £84 (plus a criminal conviction) TV Licensing didn't offer an out-of-court disposal. It always says court is a 'last resort' but won't comment on individual cases.

Here's a 69-year-old pensioner from Blyth who says his TV Licence expired while he was in hospital. He was offered an out-of-court disposal, but TV Licensing says he didn't take it up. Given his mitigation, you can understand why Taken to court, convicted, & ordered to pay £48

The obvious question is why some people are taken to court at all. But you could also ask why magistrates impose fines when punishment doesn't appear necessary This woman from Cheshire admitted her TV License wasn't paid & pleaded guilty. She got an absolute discharge

Last week, defendants were ordered to pay £176,000 after a TV Licence prosecution 12 out of 578 cases ended in an absolute/conditional discharge 533 defendants were sentenced behind-closed-doors Magistrates referred just one case to open court for more information to be sought.

@kirkkorner @ElaineB17597741 These cases are truly awful. I don't understand how this is allowed to happen

@kirkkorner How much did the Tories spaff up the wall on dodgy PPE and Test and Trace 100’s billions - always the little guy

@kirkkorner @daniellejade198 And yet there is Johnson et al who have squandered billions of public money, handed contracts to mates, and made a fortune out of other people’s misery. But their financial misdeeds are ‘forgiven’ and swept away. 😡

@kirkkorner It is a shame these people are being penalised for being honest and incriminating themselves when the TV licensing are behaving so deplorable. My understanding is they have no right of entry. People would best not to engage with them at all and shut the door.

@kirkkorner @CounsellingSam Really? Really? What has prosecuting this person proved?

@kirkkorner My advice to everyone, when someone knocks on your door, u answer they introduce themselves as Tv licensing, close the door. If you do decide to listen don’t talk to them. Do NOT let them in your home, without a warrant or invited, they cannot come in.

@kirkkorner I live in Torquay and I am so distressed to read this story, the lack of humanity this should have been referred to the local MP - Kevin Foster

@gabystubbs1 @kirkkorner This story is heart breaking and wrong. I have already called for TV Licence enforcement to be decriminalised to avoid this type of case going anywhere near the Magistrate's Court.

@kirkkorner This country is truly awful

@kirkkorner Thank you for your effort to publicise these cases. I hope your work will help to bring forward the day when such prosecutions no longer happen.

@kirkkorner More and more depressing by the day

@kirkkorner @GaryLineker will be paid no matter what.

@kirkkorner Everyone's got an excuse. Pay up, or don't watch TV. It's not expensive.

@kirkkorner While 'TV licensing' is simply a BBC trademark (so this is all done in the name of the BBC) I wonder if it is Capita Business Services and/or its contract conditions with the BBC that drive this behaviour to prosecute with what seems like rare exception.

@kirkkorner Paedophiles are treated better than this! Utter disgrace.