Council tax rebel is jailed again

Josephine Rooney said she would refuse to pay "again and again"

A pensioner from Derby who is refusing to pay her council tax has been jailed for a second time.

Josephine Rooney, 71, is protesting at the state of Hartington Street, where she lives, saying it is cursed by drugs, prostitution and overcrowding.

She has now been sent to prison for 28 days after running up council tax arrears of £1,476.

Derby magistrates said they had no choice but to jail her after she would not pay but had the funds available.

'Wilful refusal'

Josephine Rooney was first jailed in June 2006 after refusing to pay £800 in arrears for living in a road nick-named "smack alley" but only served one day of a three-month sentence after, to her annoyance, a well-wisher paid up on her behalf.

Speaking before Monday's hearing, Miss Rooney said she had no qualms about returning to jail and said she would refuse to pay "again and again".

She entered the dock clutching a bunch of flowers given by a supporter.

District Judge Caroline Goulborn, passing sentence, said her "wilful refusal" to pay when she had the money meant she had to be jailed.

Derby City Council claims it has already spent £800,000 on improvements and does not know what else it can do to make her pay her tax.