Repeat offenders fined over nature reserve fishing

Repeat offenders of illegal fishing have been fined after being caught "hook, line, and sinker" at a nature reserve they were banned from.

Luke Douglas, 24, and Layton Janes, 30, were spotted fishing at Idle Valley Nature Reserve in Retford, Nottinghamshire, on 13 May, despite an earlier court order prohibiting them from entering the site.

Officers attended and arrested Douglas, while Janes - who initially fled the scene - handed himself in later the same day, Nottinghamshire Police said.

The pair pleaded guilty to breaching the order and were each fined £85 at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

Douglas, of Welfare Avenue, Barwick in Elmet, Leeds, and Janes, of Canal Lane, Lofthouse Gate, Wakefield, were given a criminal behaviour order on 23 May 2024.

The order also meant they were not allowed to fish, or be in possession of fishing equipment, in the district of Bassetlaw.

But almost two years since the order was imposed, the pair were fishing on the lake at the nature reserve, which is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and therefore protected in England under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The pair were found with four rods positioned along the bank, using baited rigs with boilies — a method commonly used to catch carp, Nottinghamshire Police said.

PC Mark Holland, of the Worksop South neighbourhood policing team, said: "Janes and Douglas were well and truly caught – hook, line, and sinker – with nowhere to hide.

"This type of behaviour can cause substantial environmental damage, and it's imperative we do what we can to protect our rural landscapes and wildlife.

"Even when fish are caught then released like in this case, this causes avoidable stress to nature, injury to vulnerable species, and undermines recovery projects."

Holland said police had also seen the reserve left "full of rubbish" and staff subjected to "rudeness".

He added: "Idle Valley Nature Reserve is one of the largest nature conservation sites in the county, and we will continue to work with them to preserve Nottinghamshire's nature and wildlife."

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