CSA reduces fine for name changing father
Thursday, 18th February 2010
The Child Support Agency (CSA) has reduced child maintenance fines levied on a reluctant father who changed his name to avoid paying costs.
Roebyn Tusk, previously known as Robert Kerr, was found guilty in his absence of failing to supply information to the CSA about his finances and ordered to pay a £700 fine and £515 costs at Salisbury Magistrates Court last September.
But his reappearance in front of Salisbury Crown Court last week to appeal his conviction and sentence has resulted in reduced fines being sought by the CSA.
The court heard how the CSA had made several attempts to contact Mr Tusk in order to assess what contributions he should have been making for his three disowned children, but the father claimed he had no idea the agency was looking for him.
Wendy Mark, a Compliance Inspector for the CSA, told the court she spoke with Mr Tusk several times on the phone upon which he denied ever having children or changing his name.
But, while the judge agreed that Mr Tusk has been highly reluctant to provide information, his financial frailty meant that he could not afford the original sentence and additional £1,000 costs now sought by the CSA.
Mr Tusk said he lives his life through a ‘barter system’ in which he works in exchange for living amenities, such as clothes and shelter.
The father, who now lives with his second wife in Donhead St Andrew, currently cares for animals on a local farm free of charge as a way of living, and as a result, the court reduced the fine to £250 and ordered him to pay £415 costs within 12 months.
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