Woman, 69, faces jail over bills

Miss Rooney is upset with litter and anti-social behaviour

A Derby woman who faces jail after refusing to pay her council tax in protest at the state of her street has insisted she will not pay up.

Josephine Rooney, 69, of Hartington Street, stopped payments to Derby City Council in December 2004 and owes £798.97 to the authority.

At a hearing on Tuesday, magistrates said she faces three months in prison unless she settles the bill.

Miss Rooney is angry at the anti-social behaviour and litter in her area.

'Showdown'

The community worker who chairs her own residents' group said the money she owes has been placed in a holding account to prove she is not trying to avoid payment.

She said: "I am determined to pursue this. It's a showdown between me and the council.

"Prison is a bit daunting but I have to do this in order to achieve good for the people of our street."

Miss Rooney said she has been campaigning for six years to put a stop to drug-taking and fly-tipping in Hartington Street, where she has lived for 20 years.

Council leader Chris Williamson said measures were already in place to tackle those problems.

He said: "The last thing we want to do is see someone in prison for non-payment of council tax.

"There are issues in that part of the city but it's something we are addressing through our neighbourhood agenda. It's important that Miss Rooney works with us."