An angler thought he had got away with fishing without a licence by giving a false name and address when he got caught.

But his lie came back to bite him when he was slapped with huge fine and court costs totalling more than £2,700.

Kevin Longbon, of Collidge Road, Hextable, was approached by an Environment Agency water bailiff at Monks Lane, Staplehurst, last May, Maidstone Magistrates’ Court heard.

When asked for his rod licence, Mr Longbon said he had left it at home, and that he did not know he needed one as it was a private water.

He was asked for his name, house number and postcode, but when the bailiff started to carry out checks Mr Longbon admitted that the details given were not his and that he did not have a rod licence. He then attempted to continue fishing and had to be asked repeatedly to reel in his rods and stop.

The court ordered Mr Longbon to pay a £200 fine, £2,500 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Environment Agency Fisheries Team Leader Jonathan Balkwill said: “A rod licence costs £27 per year, and all the money raised from licence sales is put straight back into improving the environment for wildlife and anglers.

"So anglers who try to save themselves money and fish without the appropriate licences are cheating the rest of the angling community.

"This case is an example of our continued presence on the bank and illegal anglers should realise that anyone caught breaking the law will be prosecuted, and may end up having to pay much more than the initial cost of a rod licence.”

Licences can be bought at post offices, via the Environment Agency website (www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fish) or by dialling 0844 800 5386.