Seven people were arrested and brought before Magistrates in Ashford on Friday, 5 July, 2008, for Council Tax arrears totalling over £14,000.

Christopher James, 47, a taxi driver living in Essetford Road, was sentenced to a 90-day prison sentence which was suspended providing he pays £100-a-month towards his unpaid bill of £3,794.20.

Margaret Jeffery, 62, a pensioner from Bilsington was also sentenced to 90 days in prison but, again, this was suspended provided she pays £50-a-month towards Council Tax arrears of £1,200.

A 90-day prison sentence was also handed down to Wendy Whybrow, 42, of Crundale Close. The sentence was suspended providing £110-a-month is paid towards arrears of £3,872.26.

A fourth prison sentence of 90 days was handed to Thomas Rossiter, 54, of Shadoxhurst. The suspension of his sentence was conditional on payments of £40-a-month being paid towards arrears totalling £1,440.

Richard Astles, 54, of Swallowfield, Willesborough, was sentenced to 45 days in prison, which was suspended provided he pays £40 each month towards his Council Tax arrears of £1,440.

John Davis, 51, of Chalk Avenue, Tenterden, also received a 45 day prison sentence which was suspended on condition of a £200 payment every month towards arrears of £2,496.03.

Scott Beaumont, a 30 year-old farm worker, avoided a prison sentence as his case adjourned to 5 September, 2008, to allow full payment of his arrears to be made from the proceeds of the sale of his property in Charing.

Magistrates issued a further three arrest warrants against defaulters who failed to attend the hearing.

Media Release 0188/08

22/07/2008