Bradford Council has warned it will take a hard line against people who persistently refuse to pay their council tax after one offender was sent to prison yesterday.

Martin Stubbs, assistant director of the council’s revenues and benefits service, said the Council had a responsibility to take Court action in the interests of fairness.

And he warned that people who could pay but refused to do so could be jailed for up to 90 days.

Four of the city’s worst offenders – including one man who claimed he could not afford to pay then went on a clothes shopping spree – were dealt with at Bradford Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Safday Yousaf, 39, of Woodcross Court, Bradford, was jailed for 40 days after he defaulted on a £5 per week payment arrangement for an outstanding £1,707.91 bill on 1 Fernbank Road, Undercliffe, Bradford, dating back to 2005/06. Kay Hudson, Bradford Council’s senior council tax officer, said Yousaf claimed he could not afford to pay his arrears but a bank statement as evidence of his income and expenditure showed he had been on shopping trips to Hugo Boss and House of Fraser.

Mrs Hudson said Yousaf was ordered to pay the debt in weekly instalments and given a 40-day suspended prison sentence when he appeared on August 4 last year. Since then, he had only paid £150 even though his income more than doubled when got work in October.

In mitigation, solicitor Laiquat Din said property was owned by Yousaf’s brother and the defendant could not understand why he was being held responsible for the arrears. He said Yousaf was also out of the country or unemployed for parts of 2005 and 2006.

A further three people were dealt with after warrants were issued for their arrest.

Billy Davey, 45, of Steeple Court, Ireland Street, Bingley, had accrued £5,615.94 in arrears. The court heard the self-employed joiner earned £1,650 per month but had not paid his bill since 2006.

In addition to a 90-day suspended sentence, Davey was ordered to pay £300 per month.

Aneta Holownia, 37, of Balfour Street, East Bowling, had a debt of £1,416.31 relating to properties in Hopbine Avenue and Avenue Road, both in Bradford.

The single mother of two was given a 35-day suspended prison sentence and was ordered to pay £200 per month.

Charlene Turner, 24, of Khus Walk, Keighley, owed £2,697.89 dating back to 2008. The debt related to her current address and 167 Queens Road in Keighley.

Magistrates told her she must agree a payment arrangement.

Mr Stubbs said taking court action was a last resort. He said: “Even at this late stage, anyone who is having difficulty making payments should get in touch with us as soon as possible as we can offer benefits advice and payment options, which are there to help people who are struggling to pay.”

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