Prosecution was “legalised blackmail” – Angry trawler skipper cleared of illegal fishing says case cost him £200,000
A South Devon trawler owner cleared of illegal scallop fishing has lashed out at prosecutors who took him to court – in a case which has cost him more than £200,000. Derek Meredith, aged 50, and fellow skipper David Bickerstaff have been acquitted by a jury after a three-week trial. Mr Meredith, who owns the two boats at the centre of the case, said the prosecution had almost crippled him. He added that the two-year prosecution had cost him between £200,000 and £250,000 in lost business and legal fees. But a jury at Gloucester Crown Court acquitted him, Mr Bickerstaff and their companies of 16 counts. >click to read<09:55
Well done mate. Took some balls that. IFCA’s are out of control. Won’t be happy until they put every hard working fisherman out of business.
Well proud of my son it took guts to do this !