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Council tax woman, 85, risks jail Council tax woman, 85, risks jail
(about 11 hours later)
A former RAF nurse protesting against "unfair" council tax bills for older people says she is prepared for jail.A former RAF nurse protesting against "unfair" council tax bills for older people says she is prepared for jail.
Beryl Pearce, 85, has refused to pay two months of her annual £941 bill and owes Test Valley Borough Council £145. Beryl Pearce, 85, has refused to pay two months of her annual £941 bill and owes Test Valley Borough Council £86.
The Hampshire grandmother, a nursing orderly during Word War II, believes the government has ignored calls to make the tax fairer for the elderly. Mrs Pearce was summoned to Andover Magistrates' Court on Tuesday where the council was granted a liability order.
Mrs Pearce, who will go before Andover Magistrates Court on Tuesday, said: "It's a case of heat or eat." The order gives extra powers to the council to pursue the debt. But the grandmother remained adamant. "It's a case of heat or eat," she said.
I'm not really worried about prison, I have been through worse things in my life Grandmother Beryl PearceI'm not really worried about prison, I have been through worse things in my life Grandmother Beryl Pearce
The mother-of-two, from Andover, who will be 86 next month, said: "We have had petitions to Parliament, marches. They have taken absolutely no notice. Mrs Pearce, a nursing orderly during Word War II, believes the government has ignored calls to make the tax fairer for the elderly.
The mother-of-two, from Andover, who will be 86 next month, said: "We have had petitions to parliament, marches. They have taken absolutely no notice.
"With the prisons being full - there's a lot of us doing this - they will have a problem and will have to think about what they are doing."With the prisons being full - there's a lot of us doing this - they will have a problem and will have to think about what they are doing.
"I think it really is unfair. We are all paying the same for accommodation, for people on a pension it's a struggle."I think it really is unfair. We are all paying the same for accommodation, for people on a pension it's a struggle.
"It's a case of heat or eat - where's the justice in that?"It's a case of heat or eat - where's the justice in that?
"I have worked since I was 14 and I have served my country. "I have worked since I was 14 and I have served my country. I have nursed in old people's homes since the war."
"I have nursed in old people's homes since the war."
'Custodial sentence''Custodial sentence'
The widow, who has four grandchildren and a great-grandchild on the way, added: "I'm not really worried about prison.The widow, who has four grandchildren and a great-grandchild on the way, added: "I'm not really worried about prison.
"I have been through worse things in my life."I have been through worse things in my life.
"I'm not worried about going to jail. I think it would only be for a month."I'm not worried about going to jail. I think it would only be for a month.
"Some people are rich and it's a small amount they are having to pay out of their income, and yet a little old lady is paying nearly all her income in tax.""Some people are rich and it's a small amount they are having to pay out of their income, and yet a little old lady is paying nearly all her income in tax."
Test Valley Borough Council is seeking a liability order to give it additional powers to pursue the debt.
A council spokeswoman said: "A custodial sentence is a last resort and we would hope to resolve it before it got to that stage."A council spokeswoman said: "A custodial sentence is a last resort and we would hope to resolve it before it got to that stage."