A VICE-PRESIDENT of the National Union of Students cost the rural economy £10,000 with his illegal catching of a jumping salmon

Piers Telemacque, 23, former president of Bradford College Student Union, and his friend Aqib Kapre, 27, also of Bradford, caught the hen salmon - which had yet to spawn - without a rod licence at Stainforth Force in the Yorkshire Dales and with the use of a prohibited landing net, Skipton Magistrates' Court heard.

The men, who had believed all they needed was a permit, had ignored repeated warnings from anglers and other members of the public that what they were doing on October 24 - days before the closed season - was both illegal and unfair.

Telemacque, who killed the 10lb fish with a stone, and who the court was told, had always wanted to catch and eat a salmon, later cooked it at home for his family.

The pair also recorded themselves catching the fish and posted footage on YouTube and Facebook with the titles 'catching salmon at Stainforth' and 'something fishy'.

Jane Morgan, prosecuting for the Environment Agency, said the mature hen salmon would have been carrying thousands of eggs.

"Removal just prior to spawning is a loss to the salmon's ability to reproduce and contribute to future generations. This in turn means there are fewer juvenile salmon in the river system in the following years.

"A hen fish of approximately 10lb in weight also has a significant economic value, estimated to be worth in the region of £10,000 to the Ribble system."

Telemacque, of Farfield Avenue, Buttershaw, Bradford, admitted taking a fish without a rod and line licence, using a prohibited landing net and removing a salmon without lawful authority.

He told the court he was completely unaware of the need for a licence and both men had understood all they had needed was a permit, which they had bought.

"If we had known it was illegal, we would not have put it on Facebook and YouTube," he said.

Following the incident, they had both bought licences, had researched salmon conservation and were now heavily involved in a campaign calling for the removal of weirs on rivers, which he claimed was a greater risk to salmon.

The case against Kapre, of Braughton Street, Bradford, who was charged with taking a fish without a licence and the use of a prohibited net, was proved in absence, as he was on holiday.

Both men were fined £400 and ordered to pay £100 in costs and a £40 surcharge.