Single mum prosecuted after not realising TV licence had expired

A single mum who didn't realise that her TV licence had expired has been prosecuted and convicted for the mix-up.

The woman, from Middlesborough, is said to have been hauled to court despite promising to stump up the outstanding bill.

Brits have to fork out £159 a year for the pleasure of a TV Licence, which can be paid in one go or spread out via direct debits.

Journalist Tristan Kirk explained the shocking turn of events in a post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.

It detailed how the unnamed mum, who receives benefits, had been visited by a TV licensing officer on 5 September.

She was informed that, unbeknownst to her, the TV licence had expired.

The woman acknowledged she 'should of kept track of payments' during the doorstep interview.

She arranged to set up a payment plan where she would pay the money she owed on a fortnightly basis in instalments.

Twitter/@kirkkorner

The woman claims she then received an email 15 days later which outlined the dates when the payments would begin.

"I was on the understanding that I would receive a payment card in the post, which I have not," she said in court documents.

"I am a single mother on universal credit and child benefit. If any outstanding balances can be taken out of my benefits, please can I arrange that."

Despite seemingly setting up a plan of action to reimburse the outstanding balance, TV licensing went forward with prosecution on 25 September.

According to Tristan, the single mum was then convicted and fined on 10 October.

The maximum penalty is £1,000, plus any legal costs or compensation you may be ordered to pay.

The TV licensing website states that prosecution is a 'last resort' and customers are offered alternative avenues first.

But it is 'highly likely' that you will still be prosecuted if you have a previous TV licensing conviction, refuse to pay up, or if they needed to use detection equipment or get a search warrant to gather evidence in your case.

Getty stock images

Back in May, TV Licensing implemented a ten point plan which promised to give customers the chance to cough up before the issue was escalated.

It also vowed to 'increase support' for people going through this process, so that prosecution could hopefully be withdrawn.

But the journalist claimed that the woman was instead penalised for her mistake and given no opportunity to rectify it.

He said: "No out-of-court settlement was offered and court papers were drawn up before the email confirming the new payment plan had even gone out.

"What's the point of an action plan if, five months later, if doesn't appear to have been put into action?"

The incident prompted outrage on social media, as people expressed their anger about the treatment the mum received.

One said: "This grinds my gears. Another stress this single parent doesn't need.

"I remember my own mum being heavily fined in the 1960s... an amount that had us eating nothing else but plates of chips for weeks afterwards."

Another wrote: "Abolish the licence fee!"

A third added: "People receiving state benefits shouldn't have to pay for the TV license. This is just unnecessary cruelty against those least able to deal with it."

A TV Licensing spokesperson told LADbible: "TV Licensing’s primary aim is to help people stay licensed and avoid prosecution – which is always a last resort. We will review an individual case and not proceed to court if we receive evidence that shows it would not be in the public interest to prosecute.

"We provide people with additional guidance about the prosecution process and how they should submit mitigating evidence.”