Matthew Simpson Locked Up for Dodging Council Tax
A man from Waterlooville has been slammed with a 70-day prison sentence after failing to cough up more than £2,200 in council tax debts.
Matthew Simpson, from Wecock, owed Havant Borough Council £2,236.70 covering the period from April 2013 to March 2016.
Repeated Missed Payments Land Him Behind Bars
At Portsmouth Magistrates on 25 November, the court heard Simpson ignored multiple payment plans agreed with the council. He was found guilty of wilful refusal to pay and sent to jail.
Council Cracks Down on Deliberate Avoidance
Cabinet lead for Finance at Havant Borough Council, Councillor Philippa Gray, said:
“Local authorities have a responsibility to recover unpaid council tax and going to court is very much a last resort.
We will take action in the rare circumstance that we feel someone is deliberately avoiding paying, as this has an impact on residents who do pay.
Our advice to anyone who is experiencing difficulty in paying their council tax is to contact us as early as possible so that we can help and advise them.”
Where Does Your Council Tax Go?
Havant Borough Council collects council tax not just for itself, but also for Hampshire County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service. However, the council only retains 11% of the total it collects.
