TWO men have been fined for poaching after being caught fishing using illegal nets and torches.

The pair were each given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £420 in costs after being caught by Environment Agency officers on the River Browney at West Butsfield, near Consett.

Ian David Cook, 38, of The Grove, Consett, and Michael Fullerton, 22, of Surrey Crescent, also in Consett, pleaded guilty at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court.

Magistrates heard that during an evening patrol in November 2016, officers saw Cook and Fullerton shining torches into the river, an important waterway for migratory fish, especially sea trout.

Recent improvements have seen fish numbers increase, but stocks remain low and vulnerable.

After detaining the men, officers seized two torches and a landing net containing three dead sea trout.

Fullerton admitted shining the torch into the river and using the net to take fish, but denied knowing it was illegal and also denied knowing it was illegal to take fish during the close season.

Cook confirmed he knew that using a lamp to assist in taking fish is an offence.

Speaking after the hearing, Kevin Summerson of the Environment Agency said: “This was a serious poaching incident using illegal instruments that could have had a severe impact on future stocks of sea trout in the River Browney.

“At this time of year sea trout are returning to rivers to spawn and protecting returning fish is vital to maintaining a healthy fish population”.

He added: “That’s why our fisheries enforcement officers work hard to target those people flouting the law and we won’t hesitate to take action”.

Anyone witnessing illegal fishing incidents can report it to the Environment Agency hotline on 0800 807060.