[A]llerdale Borough Council has successfully prosecuted a local man for the non-payment of Council Tax.
The case, which was heard on Tuesday 15 August at Workington Magistrates Court, saw Darren Greggain of Bolton Street, Workington found guilty of culpable neglect in failing to pay arrears of £1,144.49.
He was sentenced to 30 days in prison, suspended on the condition he pays the debt by monthly instalments. Mr Greggain was summoned to court following numerous attempts to make contact after he persistently failed to pay the arrears.
Councillor Konrad Hansen, Executive Member for Transformation, said: “Applying to the Magistrates to send someone to prison for failing to pay their Council Tax is a last resort which we don’t take lightly. The Council has a zero tolerance approach to the non-payment of Council Tax, which pays for essential services that we all receive. The prosecution is a culmination of a long process over many months where all previous attempts to obtain payment have proved fruitless. Anyone having difficulty keeping up with payments is advised to contact us at the earliest opportunity to discuss repayment options.”
