A group of fishermen who threw lobsters overboard during an inspection and threatened officers have been jailed.
Three men and a teenager admitted various offences following an investigation by the Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA), which is a committee of Cornwall Council.
On April 25, 2025, Cornwall IFCA officers went on board the Padstow-based potting vessel Amber Mabel PW21 shortly after it had returned to Padstow Harbour.
The Amber Mabel was skippered by Ashley Rescorla and crewed by three other fishermen, including Andrew Prout and a teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons. Garry Ellis, a maintenance engineer, was also aboard the Amber Mabel to make repairs whilst it was alongside in the harbour.
The IFCA 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. Fearing for their safety, the officers departed the vessel and called the police.
After entering guilty pleas at a previous hearing, the three men were sentenced at Truro Crown Court on June 18, 2026.
Ashley Rescorla, aged 40, of Padstow, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and received a 15-month immediate custodial sentence.
Andrew Prout, aged 36, of Dartmouth, pleaded guilty to affray and received a two-month immediate custodial sentence.
Garry Ellis, aged 44, of St Austell, pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive, or insulting words/behaviour and received a one-month custodial sentence suspended for 12 months.
The teenage crewmate also pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. During an earlier hearing at Youth Court, he 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 actions taken by Cornwall IFCA will dissuade any similar offending during inspections carried out by our officers in the future.”
Press release issued on June 19, 2026