An angler who threatened to stab someone when he was asked to show his fishing licence has been slapped with a fine.

Gary Carr, from Swanley, could have avoided a bill 367 times more expensive if he had paid for a £6 licence but has now been be told to fork out more than £2,000.

The incident happened on June 22 at the Darenth Fishing Complex in Dartford, when an Environment Agency officer carried out a routine check on fishing licences and caught Carr without one.

When asked for his personal details, he threatened to stab someone.

Carr, of Alder Way, did not attend court and in his absence was fined for fishing without a rod licence, threatening behaviour and refusing to give personal details.

The 52-year-old was convicted at Medway Magistrates’ Court on December 9, fined a total of £930, and ordered to pay costs of £903.50 and a victim surcharge of £372.

Carr could have bought a one-day rod licence to fish for just £6.

Instead, his bill for not doing so and for his threatening behaviour has totalled £2,205.50.

Joe Kitanosono, a fisheries officer with the Environment Agency, said: “The brave Environment Agency officer at the Darenth Complex was instrumental in bringing this case to court.

"Making sure anglers have a valid licence and not tolerating threatening behaviour ended with Carr’s conviction. An excellent example making sure members pay their way, vital to helping the Environment Agency protect fisheries.

“Around £25m is raised annually through fishing licences, paying for stocking waters with half-a-million fish, and improving rivers and fisheries for anglers and the wider environment. It’s quick, easy and cheap to get a licence: online or by phone – search ‘fishing licence’ on gov.uk.

“Our fisheries enforcement officers carry out regular checks on private lakes, rivers, ponds and canals – anywhere that can be fished. Information on suspected illegal fishing can be called into our incident hotline: 0800 80 70 60.”

Anglers aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water need a licence.

An annual licence starts at £30. Concessions are available, and junior licences are free for 13 to 16-year-olds.