TV licence dodgers in Shropshire have been slapped with fines totalling thousands of pounds after a spate of sting inspections across the county.

A total of 47 people caught using a TV without a licence were given fines ranging from £475 to £105 by magistrates in Telford yesterday. The largest fine of £475 was to Josephine Kinnare, 27, of Mansell Road in Telford.

Magistrates heard Kinnare already owed £978 in unpaid TV licence fines from previous court hearings.

Ben Lynham, 21, of Market Street, Oakengates, Telford, was fined £110 after he wrote a letter to the court and admitted having no licence.

Two people out of the 47 appeared in court and pleaded guilty to using a television without a licence.

They were Simon Davies, 24, of Waybridge in Telford and Leanne Humphries, 26, of Brindleyford Common, Brookside in Telford.

Mr Davies said: “I have no excuse for not having a licence apart from just separating from my partner and moving to a new address, so I have had other things on my mind.”

Miss Humphries also admitted not paying the licence fee and said she was low on funds. Other people stated via letter to the court that they could not pay the licence fee because of family bereavements, changing addresses, disputes with the licensing authority and being forgetful.

In a recent league table, Telford was found to be one of the worst areas in the West Midlands for TV license evasion.

Mark Whitehouse, for TV Licensing, said: “Overall, TV Licensing caught 33,887 evaders in the West Midlands.

“While people are usually proud to see their town in the top 10, this is one league nobody wants to top.

“The high number of licence fee dodgers caught in Telford is evidence of TV Licensing’s success in enforcing the licence fee on behalf of the honest majority who pay.

“We offer a range of ways to pay, including monthly direct debit, and the option to spread the cost with weekly payments.”

For details, visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk

The court list

£475 fine

• Josephine Kinnare, 27, of Mansell Road, Telford.

£425 fine

• Debora Phillips, 39, of Halifax Drive, Telford.
• Zoe Rowden, 27, of Festival Gardens, Telford.
• Dawn Westwood, 30, of Southfield, Sutton Hill, Telford.

£340 fine

• Amanda Pullen, 40, of Burtondale, Brookside, Telford.

£250 fine

• Katie Brennan, 20, of Crown Mews, Newport.
• Ashley Broomhall, 21, of Orient Court, Gresley Close, Telford.
• Nicola Burton, 30, of Bishopdale, Brookside, Telford.
• Lisa Cartright, 29, of Orient Court, Gresley Close, Telford.
• Annette Chadwick, 37, of Copperbeach Road, Telford.
• Tara Corbett, 23, of St Brelade Close, Telford.
• Claire Ellis, 26, of Eyton View, Telford.
• Rachael Faulkner, 28, of Wildwood, Woodside, Telford.
• Laura Glenholmes, 21, of Bevan Close, Telford.
• Nicholas Harris, 21, of Sandpits Road, Ludlow.
• Claire Harvey, 24, of Wantage, Woodside, Telford.
• Sarah Ingram, 25, of Mortimor Place, Ludlow.
• Rachael Kill, 29, of Willowfield, Woodside, Telford.
• Lisa Lloyd-Edwards, 34, of Victoria Court, Hadley, Telford.
• Emma Nock, 31, of The Grove Estate, St Georges, Telford.
• Miss Emma Owen, 27, of Wombridge Road, Telford.
• Gemma Phillips, 26, of Waltondale, Woodside, Telford.
• David Ralphs, 31, of Peacock Grove, Telford.
• Nyree Rawlison, 26, of Pool Meadow, Telford.
• Owen Roberts, 24, of Grizedale Drive, Doseley, Telford.
• Jenny Smith, 27, of Martin Road, Wellington.
• Steven Taylor, 23, of Church Street, St Georges, Telford.
• Phillip Venables, 22, of St John Street, Wellington.
• Dian Witts, 57, of Webb Crescent, Dawley, Telford.
• Lesley Young, 48, of Leonard Court, Oakengates, Telford.

£200 fine

• Shirley Williams, 60, of Waltondale, Woodside

£175 fine

• Angela Skitt, 42, of Briarwood, Brookside, Telford.

£165 fine

• Dave Mooney, 41, of Springhill Crescent, Madeley, Telford.

£160 fine

• Leanne Humphries, 26, of Brindleyford Common, Telford.
• Jemma Tucker, 25, of St Matthew’s Road, Donnington.

£150 fine

• Penny Gonko, 30, of Woodrose, Woodside, Telford.

£110 fine

• Kerrie Jordan, 23, of Grinshill Flats, Severn Drive, Telford.
• Ben Lynam, 21, of Morson House, Market Street, Oakengates, Telford.
• Anna Plant, 34, of Bracken Way, Newport.
• Carol Smith, 33, of Wealdstone, Woodside, Telford.

£105 fine

• Simon Davies, 24, of Waybridge, Woodside, Telford.

By Peter Finch