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Aged 76 and in handcuffs: The council tax rebel jailed for refusing to pay £1,483.51
Last updated at 00:07am on 20.02.08
Prisoner of principle: Richard Fitzmaurice is taken to the cells
His crime? Non-payment of council tax.
Richard Fitzmaurice appeared shocked when a pair of handcuffs was slapped around his wrists as soon as his 34-day sentence was passed at King's Lynn Magistrates' Court, Norfolk, yesterday.
Mr Fitzmaurice, who spent 22 years in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, had declared in court: "I am here on a matter of principle. The way old age pensioners are being treated is shameful."
He said that rising fuel and food costs, along with council tax rises, were making life unbearable for many elderly people.
Mr Fitzmaurice, who has high blood pressure, added: "I can afford to pay it but there are very many people on fixed incomes who cannot.
"This morning there will be pensioners making cups of tea while they are standing in their overcoats. There will be many sitting in front of one-bar electric fires. Is that fair?
"Pensioners in this country are the worst treated in Europe. It is not fair and it is not right. I have no other way of protesting."
Catherine Saunders, representing King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council, said the authority had no option but to seek a prison sentence.
Chairman of the bench Sandy Chandler told the old soldier: "You are clearly a man of principle, but we have to enforce the law."
As the handcuffs were put on him, the former warrant officer asked: "Is that really necessary? You don't need those for me."
But the court ruled "procedures had to be followed".
Tax rebel: Richard Fitzmaurice was a soldier for 22-years
While violent offenders may be released on licence halfway through their sentence, Mr Fitzmaurice must serve his full term unless the debt is paid because there is no remission for non-payment of council tax.
Yesterday he began his sentence in a police cell in Peterborough as there was not enough space at the local jail. When he is transferred, he will be held alongside muggers and burglars.
It is the second time he has been over his stance which began after he became increasingly angry that he and his wife were having to limit what they spent on food in order to pay their council tax.
In 2006, he served three days of a 32-day sentence before his family, concerned about his health, paid his council tax.
Mr Fitzmaurice, who lives with his wife Rita, 77, in Heacham, Norfolk, owes £1,359 on his 2007-2008 Band D council tax plus £209 bailiff's and court costs. The couple receive £200 a week in pensions.
He went to court yesterday, clutching a washbag, accompanied by his son Christopher, daughter Sally and other supporters.
After the hearing, his daughter said: "Non-payment of council tax only carries a custodial sentence. It is part of an unfair system."
The family had not made any decision about paying off the debt, she added. "We will have to wait and see whether it will be necessary to get him out."
Matthew Elliott, of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said he applauded Mr Fitzmaurice's "brave stand".
Reader views (29)
We should all refuse to pay our Council tax as Jacqueline says, then I would love to see what the courts do then, it will be a case of where do we put the offenders.
- Belinda Kendal, London, 19/02/2008 17:30
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Disgusting and shameful. This man is a hero, but until we ALL refuse to pay, this will KEEP happening.
- Neil, London UK, 19/02/2008 17:27
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Mr. Fitzmaurice is a national treasure and hero. I nominate a statue of him for the empty plinth in Trafalgar Square.
- R M, London, UK, 19/02/2008 16:34
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This man is exactly the sort of person we want as Prime Minister, rather low lives such as Blair and Brown.
As for sending him to prison, I hardly think the UK government is in a position to criticise other countries human rights abuses, when it is capable of imprisoning a man for standing up for his convictions, while letting rapists, murderers and other assorted scumbags walk free, citing "prison overcrowding" as the reason. Have Amnesty International been notified?
- Richard, Madrid, Spain, 19/02/2008 15:01
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This is ludicrous. At a time when many non custodial sentences (asbos, tagging, etc) are being experimented with to try and keep people out of prison an old man is imprisoned for non-payment of an unpopular tax. Surely if this law has to be enforced the courts have the power to acquire the money from Mr. Fitzmaurice by some means (a deduction from his pension or bank account) rather than resorting to the sledgehammer of a gaol sentence. When are the MP's who are fiddling much greater sums on expenses going to be locked up?
- Mick, London, England, 19/02/2008 14:25
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This country used to help and support the older citizens, making sure they could live a decent life in retirement. What has gone wrong? This is appalling that man like this is treated so badly by the country he has served. We all need to hang our heads in shame. Is this what NULab stands for? If so I want none of this!
- Ian Makin, twickenham, 19/02/2008 13:56
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Lucky that we are spending £300,000 of taxpayers money on control order spending on phone bills and utilities for terrorists! I guess we should be happy that our hard earned tax money is being spent on people who's only wish is to blow us up, rather than our own OAP's who have contributed to this country for 60 years! How anyone can vote Labour with a clear conscience defies belief - it could be your Grandma/Grandad next!
- Gary Parker, Amersham, 19/02/2008 13:48
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Time to emigrate!
- Tobin, Andover, 19/02/2008 13:24
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And then you read about Mr Khan, convicted terrorist receiving £ 20,352.00 on benefits and bringing his mum over to get £640.00 a month carers allowance. God, the establishment hates us indigenous population!
- Grim Reaper, London, 19/02/2008 13:21
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It's about time us 11million OAPs united and demand a fairer system.
We in ENGLAND are ruled by SCOTS who only care about SCOTLAND.
- Mick Jack, Wellingborough, 19/02/2008 13:00
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The issue here is that he has committed an offence against the state. This country treats crimes against the state or property far more seriously than those against the person.
You only have to go to the cinema to see the ad before each film threatening unlimited fines and up to 10 years in jail if you are caught recording a movie. Compare that to an average of 7 years for rape.
It is no wonder we jail our council tax rebels.
- Marc, Harrow, Uk, 19/02/2008 12:58
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Good luck to him. His generation have more guts than the rest of this country put together. Shame everyone else didn't have such high principles.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent, 19/02/2008 12:38
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This is shameful!
Council tax is not means tested and is based on the value of your property which for many elderly people is impossible to keep up with. He is exactly right in his protest as why should we not be able to protect those who are the most vunerable in society.
Brian from Wiltshire is right. Whilst those who intend to break the law get a slap on the wrists and those who are unable to pay get custodial sentences. There has to be something very wrong there.
- Kalstar, London, UK, 19/02/2008 12:31
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Unbelievable. One story today highlights how much money we throw at people who are considered dangerous to this country and then another tells how we throw our pensioners in jail for refusing to pay over the top Council Tax. When on earth is this country going to return to common sense? Get rid of this Government, the out of touch judges, this ludicrous "human rights" laws, and show some backbone.
- Shirley, Bromley, 19/02/2008 11:55
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This gent is not a criminal. I hope to God this does not aggravate his health problems. I'm ashamed of his treatment when we have a host of immigration and religious crime far more worthy of police time.
- Janet Cranston, London, 19/02/2008 11:45
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Why is this a surprise? All governments and local councils care about are taxes and funding - not people. Try and baulk the precious system and they come down on you like a ton of bricks!
- Lee, London, 19/02/2008 11:32
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This is a disgrace, this man is highlighting the plight that many pensioners face in paying there council tax and other bills, and he is thrown in prison , but muggers, burglars, child molesters and numerous other low lifes get non custodial sentences for thier hideous crimes, what sort of country is this? What kind of people are we that we allow this to happen? Our leaders, law makers and judges should be ashamed of themselves!
- Brian, Wiltshire, 19/02/2008 11:13
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Good on him, the government would rather spend £110 million on Northern Rock than keeping pensioners alive, after all, they don't contribute to Gordon's economy, they just leech from it.
- Lee Camiballs., Shooters Hill, 19/02/2008 10:41
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An old soldier in jail, but people whose only aim in life is to cause death and devastation in this country have their council tax and other expenses paid by the taxpayer! How much longer are going to allow this kind of thing to go on ?
- Beatriz, London, 19/02/2008 10:39
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If we all only had more guts to stand up for our principles. How can local councils justify hiking up the council theft supposedly for services we never see improve. How can the councillors see their wages increase (along with golden pensions) and not care about the more vulnerable taxpayers in our society.
- Richard Craig, Bristol, 19/02/2008 10:15
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This is one reason why I never joined any of the military when I was younger, it is not worth it and this country is not worth it. Banks and other institutions are still reaping massive profits at our expense and this government does not care because they are part of the great swindle. Burglar’s rapists and other criminals are let out to commit further criminal deeds again at our expense, while this government and their friends in the city are getting richer and richer every day. This country is in for one hell of a steam roller ride this coming decade and we are being led down that path by just a few greedy people who have no respect for anything except their pay check.
- Stephen D., London England, 19/02/2008 10:12
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I support this man 100%. We treat our old people with utter contempt and why they are forced to pay this out of control tax is beyond me.
- Fly, London, 19/02/2008 09:54
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This is scandalous.
- Jack Hynes, London, 19/02/2008 09:18
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This 'socialist?' government has no money for the care of the elderly. It forces pensioners to pay council tax or puts them in jail. Yet it can find £100 billion to bail out a private bank?
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 19/02/2008 09:08
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Is this the way we treat our servicemen and a pensioner at that?
The council should be ashamed.
- Jimbob, Kensington, 19/02/2008 08:01
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What a disgusting shameful sight.
- Linda Tricker, Rimini, Italy, 19/02/2008 07:46
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Its funny, we are told that there's not enough room in prisons for muggers, robbers and many other regular lawbreakers but somehow they can find room for this old "Bulldog". Good luck to you Fitz at least you'll get three good meals a day, warmth, entertainment et al, I'm surprised more oldsters aren't clammering to get in at wintertime where they might finally get some proper care.
- Dan, London UK, 19/02/2008 07:12
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The way this poor man is being treated is so unfair, he's paid taxes all his life let pensioners be.
- W Joseph, London, England, 19/02/2008 06:53
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The whole country should go on strike against Council Tax!
- Jacqueline, Derbyshire, UK, 19/02/2008 05:01
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