Licence dodger's '˜alien abduction'

A Haywards Heath resident has featured in a list of most ludicrous excuses given for failing to buy a tv licence.
A TV Licence covers you to watch or record live TV, whatever device youre watching on.A TV Licence covers you to watch or record live TV, whatever device youre watching on.
A TV Licence covers you to watch or record live TV, whatever device youre watching on.

They claimed: “I was abducted by aliens. As the government doesn’t believe me I’m refusing to pay my bills.”

Now the line has been turned into an animation by students as part of a competition.

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Parrots, microwave ovens and the King of Scotland all feature in the list of implausible excuses for not having a tv licence given over the last year.

Many from the list have been turned into animations by five of the UK’s leading animation universities.

All areas of the UK have demonstrated a creative approach. One person claimed that they belonged to a religious sect and only ‘use the TV to watch apparitions and also receive and communicate information to and from our God’ and someone even appeared to have links to royalty by saying: “I have a letter from the Queen making me exempt from the fee. I’ve lost my copy, but I’ll call her later.”

Ben Craig, TV Licensing spokesman for London and the South East, said: “The students’ animations are highly imaginative but we’re not so impressed with the creative approach to excuses, as watching or recording live TV without a licence is against the law.

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“Even though we’re effective at catching evaders, we’d always prefer people pay than risk a maximum £1,000 fine. For those who may find it difficult to pay in one go, we offer a range of payment options to spread the cost, sign up at www.tvlicensing.co.uk/payinfo.”

More than 40 excuses films have been submitted from students across the UK. View and vote for your favourite animation at youtube.com/tvlicensing

To check if a licence is needed, visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk/info or call 0300 790 6112.