Fishermen prosecuted for perverting the course of justice, affray, abusive and threatening behaviour.
Two fishermen and a maintenance engineer were given custodial sentences after they admitted various offences which prevented a lawful inspection of the fishing vessel Amber Mabel PW21.
Following investigations by the Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA), which is a committee of Cornwall Council, three men were sentenced at Truro Crown Court on 18 June 2026.
Ashley Rescorla, aged 40, of Padstow, entered guilty pleas to perverting the course of justice and received a 15-month immediate custodial sentence.
Andrew Prout, aged 36, of Dartmouth, entered a guilty plea to affray and received a two-month immediate custodial sentence.
Garry Ellis, aged 44, of St Austell, entered a guilty plea for threatening, abusive, or insulting words/behaviour and received a one-month custodial sentence suspended for 12 months.
At a previous, separate hearing a fisherman, who was under the age of 18 and cannot be named, had entered a guilty plea to perverting the course of justice in connection to this case.
The men were prosecuted following an investigation relating to the fishing vessel Amber Mabel PW21.
Additionally, four fishing offences, for which Ashley Rescorla and the vessel owner were investigated, were disposed of by way of separate legal actions by Cornwall IFCA which did not involve court proceedings.
On 25th April 2025, Cornwall IFCA officers went on board the Padstow-based potting vessel shortly after it had returned to Padstow harbour at the end of a fishing trip.
The Amber Mabel was skippered by Ashley Rescorla and crewed by three other fishermen, including Andrew Prout and one youth. Garry Ellis was also aboard the Amber Mabel to make repairs whilst it was alongside in the harbour.
The officers were prevented from carrying out their lawful duty to inspect the catch retained on board when the entire catch of lobsters stored on the deck was thrown overboard by the skipper and a crewman. Officers suspected that berried female lobsters were among the catch but were unable to hold onto any of the lobsters for closer analysis. They were subjected to verbal abuse and threatening behaviour by the defendants that caused the officers to fear for their own safety, depart the vessel and then call in the Police for back-up.
After all four defendants had previously entered guilty pleas to the Court, sentencing was carried out in two stages. At the Youth Court on 1 June 2026, the crewman who was under the age of 18, was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £220 costs and surcharge.
Simon Cadman, the Principal Enforcement Officer for Cornwall IFCA said, “The collective actions and behaviours of the master, certain crew members and the maintenance engineer during a routine inspection of a local fishing vessel, were certainly the worst that has ever been experienced by Cornwall IFCA officers. I can only assume that the master and crew knew they had illegal lobsters on board and believed that if they prevented them from being inspected, they could avoid an investigation and the potential for legal proceedings. They may not have considered that a conviction for perverting the course of justice or public order offences could lead to a more severe sentence, including imprisonment.
As has been demonstrated here, Cornwall IFCA will not tolerate illegal and unreasonable behaviour that prevents its officers from carrying out their statutory duties. Perpetrators will be investigated and brought to justice for their indefensible conduct. I sincerely hope that our officers are never subjected to such a situation again and that the sentences handed down by the court will dissuade any similar offending in the future.”
VIDEO: https://vimeo.com/1202170339/41c857f4d4?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci