Demo to support John Kelly against BBC bias - 15/7

[pavelstroilov]

BBC licence fee refusenik John Kelly will have a hearing in Exeter Magistrates Court on Wednesday 15 July at 11.00 am. As you may know, the 2,000 Refuseniks withhold their licence fee in protest against BBC's pro-EU bias for the last 7 years. This is the first time BBC is trying to prosecute one of them, so it is important to make sure they are faced with a strong public protest.

See TV licence rebel seeks trial by jury - Telegraph and Licence rebel prosecuted as BBC finally tackles TV fee 'refuseniks' | Mail Online

Vladimir Bukovsky and others are coming to support Mr. Kelly with a demonstration in front of the court. You are invited to join us at Central Devon Magistrates Court, Exeter Trust House, Blackboy Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 6TZ.

[Teddy Bear]

Welcome Pavel, and while I won't personally be able to attend, you and the others have my heartiest support. Please keep us abreast of developments on this case which we'll be following as it unfolds. Your first hand impressions will be greatly appreciated.

Great Stuff - we need many more like you.

[pavelstroilov]

CORRECTION: the hearing and demonstration take place at Exeter Magistrates Court, the Court House, Heavitree Rd., Exeter, Devon, EX1 2LS. I am very sorry for giving a wrong address initially.

[Teddy Bear]

The bad news is Kelly was found guilty and fined £240 plus £75 costs and fees - amounting to £315 in total.
The good news is that since he hasn't paid his licence fee since 2002, which would have amounted to about £900 in total had he paid it, he's well ahead.

Pensioner fined for rebellion over TV licence
A pensioner who refused to pay his television licence fee for six years in protest over his claim that the BBC is "biased" in its reporting has been fined £240.

By Richard Savill

John Kelly, 70, a retired engineer, from Exmouth, Devon, has not paid the annual £142.50p fee since 2002, accusing the BBC of being pro-European.

Yesterday, at Exeter magistrates' court, he admitted not paying the fee and was also ordered to pay £60 costs and £15 victims' surcharge.

Kelly, who represented himself in court, was greeted outside the building by two dozen banner waving supporters.

In mitigation, he told the magistrates: "There is a clear message and that is the BBC must obey the law."

He added: "The BBC is a unique public service broadcaster but in the matter of impartiality to which it is bound by the Royal Charter, it is deeply deficient.

"As regards any matter of political significance it is required to report 'in a manner which is fair, balanced, and objective such as to allow the listener to form their own opinion'."

He told the court that on the issue of Europe, the BBC breached that obligation.

He said: "It is manifested by what I call bias by default in that only the pro EU aspect is covered and not the anti EU or EU sceptical aspect as required by the Charter."

Kelly told the court he had six years of correspondence with the TV Licensing Authority and the BBC about his concerns but no action had been taken against him until he received national publicity.

He said that after Charles Moore, the Daily Telegraph columnist, mentioned him in an article in the Spectator magazine last year, "they were knocking on my door in two months".

Mr Moore, former editor of The Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph, and The Spectator, wrote that if the BBC was still employing Jonathan Ross he would not renew his licence.

Exeter magistrates on Wednesday heard 40 other cases of householders not paying their television licences, although none of the defendants appeared in person. They were also fined.