‘I beat the system and proved I didn’t need a TV licence’

A man who thought he ‘beat the system’ by getting his TV licence cancelled after proving he only watches streaming services still ended up being threatened with a criminal conviction.

Lee Stuart applied for one when he moved into a new home in Kirkby, Merseyside, but later decided to scrap it because he preferred bingeing Netflix and Amazon Prime.

He was visited by an inspection officer last September and says they agreed he did not watch any live TV or use the BBC iPlayer.

But in January this year, a letter came through saying he was being prosecuted under the controversial single justice procedure (SJP).

The SJP was set up in 2015 to allow magistrates to decide on minor offences, such as using a television without a licence or driving without car insurance, without defendants going to court.

Around 25,000 people were convicted of not paying their TV licence in the year ending June 2024, the Standard reports.

There have been calls to reform the system after it was revealed sick pensioners, people with mental health problems and bereaved families were being given criminal convictions for failing to pay.

Lee said of his inspection: ‘I told him I didn’t pay for a TV licence because I didn’t think I needed one because I don’t watch live TV. I don’t even have an aerial installed in my TV.’

He said he ‘just watches Netflix and Amazon Prime through the PlayStation’, which the inspector agreed.

‘To be honest, I was really made up with myself, thinking I’d beaten the system and proved I didn’t need a licence,’ he added.

But that relief was wiped out when the SJP notice came through the letter box in January.

Speaking to the Echo, he said: ‘It said if I pleaded not guilty, the fine would be larger, and I may have to pay court costs. So, I’m not sure what’s going on at this point.’

He said the inspector’s statement was included in the paperwork but the question ‘May I come in to inspect the TV receiver?’ was marked ‘No’.

It also stated he had admitted to watching the news days earlier.

Lee decided to contest the case in court – despite warnings he faced a large fine as well as prosecution costs – and ended up proving his case a second time.

‘I can see why people just accept it, but I knew I was innocent, and I wasn’t paying for a TV licence that I didn’t need so I fought it,’ he said.

Magistrates threw out the case due to insufficient evidence.

A TV Licensing spokesperson said: ‘This was reviewed by TV Licensing following the court hearing in April 2025 as is standard practice, and no failings were highlighted.’

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