TWO fishermen convicted of fraud have been ordered to hand over their boat as part of a financial penalty totalling more than £25,000.

Peter Summerfield and his son, also called Peter, were prosecuted after checks confirmed that their licence applied to another boat that was smaller and caught less fish.

The two men, both from New Milton, left the court with the judge’s words of condemnation ringing in their ears.

His Honour Judge Richard Price told them that much of their evidence was “utter rubbish” and added: “You are a pair of crooks.”

Isle of Wight Crown Court heard that the two men had previously used a small fishing boat. They then acquired a bigger and more powerful craft – ironically called Perfect Catch – that was capable of catching and carrying more fish but passed it off as the original vessel.

They were caught after the new boat was found to be longer than the one described on the registration document.

Peter Benjamin Summerfield, 62, admitted two charges brought under the registration requirements of the Merchant shipping Act and also pleaded guilty to using an unlicensed vessel to fish for profit.

He was fined £600 with £500 costs.

His son, Peter James Summerfield, 36, was the vessel’s skipper. He admitted one charge brought under the registration requirements of the Merchant Shipping Act and one charge of using an unlicensed vessel to fish for profit. He was fined £400 with £1,000 costs.

They were each handed a £11,575 confiscation order in respect of the boat.

Passing sentence Judge Price said: “To describe what you did together and as individuals as very stupid would be an understatement.

“You had one boat, then got a larger boat and used the old licence to catch more fish.”

Referring to their statements in court he added: “It’s been sometime since I’ve heard such utter rubbish as trotted out by you two.”

The case followed a joint investigation prosecution by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Ceri Bradshaw, manager of the MCA’s registry of shipping and seamen, said: “This may seem like an administrative offence but they made a vessel appear to be something it wasn’t. The vessel was unregistered and should not have been used for fishing.”

Paul Johnson, district marine officer for the MMO, added: “It’s vital that vessels are properly licensed to ensure sustainable fisheries for the future. The prosecution of this case helps ensure that individuals and operators do not benefit at the expense of honest fishermen.”