Man bought GTFC tickets despite owing £3k

A GRIMSBY town fan escaped jail after a judge heard he owed more than £3,000 in council tax – yet managed to pay for home game tickets every week.

Graham Belcher, 46, of Cromwell Road, Grimsby, admitted non-payment of council tax at Grimsby Magistrates' Court, dating back to March 2010.

North East Lincolnshire Council launched a prosecution against Belcher after he failed to respond to their warning letters – despite numerous visits by bailiffs – and argued he should be jailed after showing "wilful refusal" to pay the £3,567 bill.

District Judge Daniel Curtis heard how Belcher recently had Sky TV installed and paid £20 a week for Grimsby Town football home matches.

Belcher blamed his "stupid mistakes" and pledged to "knock a few things on the head" like clothes, DVDs and Town games, in order to pay the bill at £50 a week.

He said: "This is due to my stupid mistakes. I had people trying to get money off me at the same time. I had to pay them quickly or I would be in more trouble than I already was.

"As soon as I got them paid off I tried to pay my council tax."

The maximum penalty for not paying council tax is 90 days in prison.

Ordering Belcher to make the first £50 payment within a week, Judge Curtis said: "So you had money to pay your council tax but you decided to pay for different things. That is wilful refusal."

Judge Curtis told Belcher he was gambling 90 days in prison on being able to pay back £50 every week.

"If you don't, you will go to prison."