A COMMERCIAL fisherman put public health at risk by trying to catch shellfish suspected of being contaminated with E coli, a court heard.

Michael Stimson claimed he intended to use the shellfish as bait – but a district judge told him the bacteria could still have ended up in the food chain.

Stimson, 32, of Ladycross Road in Hythe, was appearing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court.

At a previous hearing he admitted flouting maritime safety laws by operating a vessel without navigation lights, using two deckhands who were not properly trained, fishing in prohibited waters and failing to re-register his boat, which had previously been owned by his father.

District judge Lorraine Morgan sent Stimson to Southampton Crown Court for sentencing.

She said: “There are issues here of public safety. The defendant displayed a cavalier attitude to these significant matters.”

Sunyana Sharma, prosecuting, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said coastguards patrolling the Solent were approaching Stimson’s fishing boat at 8.10pm when it suddenly switched off its lights, which were designed to prevent collisions at night.

Describing the other offences she added: “On two occasions he was dredging for shellfish in an area that was prohibited because of a high risk of E coli. Considerable harm could have been caused to public health.”

Caroline Jones, in mitigation, told the court: “The shellfish were to be used as bait and only for bait – there was never any sale.”

But Judge Morgan said the E coli could still have ended up in the food chain.

Asked about the other offences Miss Jones said Stimson “had problems dealing with administration” and added: “The two crewmembers were not exactly crewmembers. They were on board for the day and were two friends as opposed to employees."

At the same hearing Stimson was sentenced for using violence to secure entry to a property occupied by a former partner and her child.

He had denied the offence but was found guilty after a trial earlier this year.

Stimson, who had previous conviction for domestic violence, was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for two years. He was also handed a 12-month restraining order and ordered to pay his victim £200 in compensation.

Judge Morgan told him: "You are a person who represents a danger of violence to someone with whom you are in a relationship."