Prison term for woman who refused to pay her council tax bill

Janet Holdridge, of Riley Avenue, Doncaster was sent to prison after an appearance at Doncaster Magistrates Court.

Doncaster Council has insisted the move to jail Mrs Holdridge was a last resort because of her repeated refusal to pay.

The authority said the 46-year-old owed the council more than £2,000 and her case had been heard by magistrates on “numerous” previous occasions.

Mrs Holdridge did not attend the latest magistrates court hearing and an arrest warrant had to be issued.

The court was told that Mrs Holdridge had the financial means to pay the bill but had consistently failed to do so.

She had defaulted on previous payment orders issued by the courts.

Mrs Holdridge was found guilty of culpable neglect for a third time and sent to prison.

Simon Wiles, director of finance and corporate services at Doncaster Council, said: “Before considering court action we will try to come to an arrangement with customers who are struggling to pay their council tax.

“We also work closely with agencies and organisations, providing practical help and advice to anyone finding themselves in debt.

“We actively encourage people who are eligible to take up council tax support and discounts.

“Unfortunately there are still people who refuse to pay their council tax even though they are financially able.

“We have a legal duty to all those who do pay on time to make sure these offenders don’t get away with it.”

Councils across the region have found it more difficult to collect taxes in recent years as people struggle to pay their bills.

Changes to the council tax support system also mean that in many parts of the region families who have previously been exempt are having to pay bills for the first time.

As these are people usually on low incomes they are more likely to have problems paying and the number of court summonses issued by councils for non-payment nationally has soared in the last year.

However, councils usually see the use of the legal process as a way of forcing people to confront the problem and sign up to payment plans.

It remains very rare for authorities to press magistrates to send an individual to prison.

Councils can also request bailiffs seize goods from defaulters to pay their debts.

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