Council tax rebel, 71, jailed AGAIN for refusing to pay bill until her street is 'cleared of drugs and prostitution'

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A pensioner was jailed for a second time yesterday after refusing to pay her council tax. Josephine Rooney was sent to prison two years ago after withholding payment because she believed the local authority had failed to prevent her once-elegant street from being overrun by drug dealers and prostitutes.

Hartington Street in Derby had become known to locals as Crack Alley and her constant lobbying of the council had proved fruitless, she said.

In June 2006, the 71-year-old was jailed for three months. But she served just a day of her sentence after a wellwisher paid her £798.97 bill.

She left prison to continue her campaign and is now more than two years in arrears to Derby City Council, owing £1,476.

Last night, she began her second spell in jail after being sentenced to 28 days for two more offences of non-payment.

Derby Magistrates said they had no choice but to jail her after she refused to pay, even though she has the money to settle her arrears.

Before the hearing, Miss Rooney said she had no qualms about prison. "I will do it again and and again.

"I have the money in a holding account, but I'm not paying it. This is the only way I can demonstrate what type of council we are living under.

"Nothing is achieved by people sitting on their hands and saying nothing. You have to suffer to change things - eventually someone will listen.

"I'm even prepared to go on hunger-strike about the situation that has existed in our street for 20 years - that's how strongly I feel about this.

"If I can go on and make a change to the law I will be very proud of myself. And this time I don't want anyone else to pay my council tax for me.

"People have already offered to pay, but I have told them that this would not be helpful. I will serve my sentence and do it again and again."

Yesterday the pensioner entered the dock at Derby magistrates' court clutching a bouquet of flowers handed to her by a supporter.

District Judge Caroline Goulborn, passing sentence, told her: "You have made it clear that you have no intention to pay the amount.

"I have listened to what you have to say, but I do find willful refusal on the grounds that you have clearly have the means to pay."

The last time Miss Rooney was jailed she appeared in court only months after being commended her for her work to regenerate the community.

The devout Christian has been locked in a lengthy battle with the council, accusing it of turning Hartington Street into a drug-plagued bedsit-land.

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

The council has urged the former Eucharist minister to "work with us rather than against us", claiming it has long since addressed her concerns.

Brian Tomlinson, the authority's assistant revenues manager, said: "She has made clear she has the money but is effectively withholding payment."