Quatloos!

A Wirral man who has refused to pay his council tax and led a rebel protest to "arrest" a judge has been declared bankrupt today.

New Brighton businessman Roger Hayes should have appeared before a High Court judge at Liverpool this morning but he failed to attend. Mr Justice Calvert-Smith was told that Hayes, chairman of the British Constitution Group, had written a letter asking for an adjournment as he had "a prior engagement."

But as the hearing was the fourth hearing in the case the judge refused to adjourn it and granted Wirral Borough Council's bankruptcy petition.

Claire Jackson, counsel representing the local authority, told the judge, sitting at Liverpool Crown Court, that at a hearing at Wirral County Court on February 15 the case was adjourned on the basis that the £2,061.25 liability for non payment of council tax would be paid by March 1.

This did not happen and when the case was again listed on March 7 the proceedings were disrupted by Hayes and a large number of supporters who tried to make a citizen's arrest of District Judge Michael Peake.

Miss Jackson said that on Hayes' blog he has written that he will be giving a presentation tonight at Hollins Hey Hotel in New Brighton.
He is charging £10 a head for those who want "to find out the truth why I am not paying and why you should not pay."

Granting the bankruptcy petition, Mr Justice Calvert-Smith said, "It is perfectly clear from the records of previous proceedings that the debt has never been challenged and he has undertaken to pay it."

After the hearing a council representative said that the Official Receiver, who is now in charge of Hayes' finances, will add the court costs to the amount owed.

Hayes has refused to pay as he claims the way the council tax is being applied is unlawful.

Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Jeff Green said: "We will continue to make every effort to keep Council Tax as low as possible and, this year, have ensured that no Wirral residents will see a rise in their Council Tax.

"People who don't pay are breaking the law so I am pleased that justice has been served.

"Council Tax helps to pay for the important services that people depend on such as children's centres, public libraries and protecting and supporting vulnerable people.

"This is something that we take very seriously and we will not hesitate to ensure that everyone pays their fair share."

The judgment will now be passed to The Official Receiver so that the Council Tax and costs owed to Wirral Council can be collected.