Dawn blitz on bail dodgers

Fine and bail dodgers across Lichfield and Burntwood received an early morning wake-up call when police swooped on their homes.

About 50 officers and court service staff made dawn visits to more than 40 people yesterday who had failed to pay fines or answer bail. The blitz was also held in Tamworth and Burton upon Trent.

The pre-planned operations aimed to recover thousands of pounds owed in fines and compensation

Police arrested 23 people who then appeared before magistrates at Burton. They owed thousands of pounds in outstanding court fines and compensation payments to the victims of crime. One man was sent to prison.

Staffordshire Court Service enforcement manager Andrew Williams said the operations - codenamed Payback and Turn-up - had been a success.

"All the individuals targeted in the operation have persistently refused to pay their fines - despite the courts offering them every chance," he said.

"Many of those facing the court were given suspended committals - that means if they again fail to pay what they owe, then they will be sent to prison."

One of the people arrested, Gary Leighton of Hobs Road, Lichfield, was jailed for 42 days after Burton magistrates heard that he owed £1,087 in unpaid fines for motoring offences including drink driving and driving without insurance.

The swoop was part of a series of operations which will be staged in the run-up to Christmas.

Chief Inspector Mark Riley, of Trent Valley Division, said it is easy to forget the victims of crime when talking about fine and bail dodgers.

"But victims and witnesses can be placed under tremendous strain when fines are not paid and cases in which they are involved do not proceed because defendants have not turned up at court," he said.

By Victoria Hoe