Ballymena TV Licensing Goon Gets Aggressive

Alarming new video footage shows a suspected TV Licensing goon refusing to identify himself and striking out at the occupier during a routine visit to an unlicensed property.

The video, which was uploaded to Facebook yesterday, shows the silver-haired effeminate-sounding goon becoming increasingly irate as the occupier films the doorstep encounter.

Although this goon point blank refuses to identify himself, we do not doubt his association with TV Licensing. His arrogant air of pseudo-officialness, perceived self-invincibility and loose interpretation of the rules betray his true allegiance. On the face of it, he really is another David Clark in the making.

For the sake of completeness, as this goon has suggested he may try to use the occupier's own video footage against him (a pretty lousy trick, which is characteristic of TV Licensing), we have transcribed the entire episode below:

[Occupier answers door]

[TV Licensing Goon]: Hi there.

[Occupier]: Hello.

[Goon]: Mr Wilson?

[Occupier]: Can I ask who's asking?

[Goon]: I'm asking.

[Occupier]: And who are you?

[Goon]: Why are you recording me?

[Occupier]: I just want to know who you are. It's for my legal purposes and your legal purposes (inaudible).

[Goon]: Okay, well do you mind if I record you then?

[Occupier]: Yeah, go on ahead. Who are you? You come to my door and you're not explaining who you are.

[Goon]: Okay. I'll go and get my camera. Be back in a sec.

[Goon starts descending communal staircase]

[Occupier]: Where are you going? You come to my door and don't tell me who you are. Who are you?

[Goon pushes his hand towards camera]

[Occupier]: Get your ID out. Who are you sir?

[Goon]: Do you know what this is about?

[Occupier]: I don't know. That's why I'm asking you.

[Goon]: Alright. I'll come back.

[Occupier]: No. Answer me my question. What do you want? You come to my door, you don't produce any ID and you just walk off. Who are you sir? Are you TV Licence?

[Goon]: No I'm not.

[Goon strikes out at occupier's phone, his hand clearly hitting it]

[Occupier]: Get your hands off my phone.

[Goon]: Hey!

[Occupier]: That can go to the police that can.

[Goon]: That's okay.

[Occupier]: Get away from my door. See, if you come to my door again it won't be a phone I bring out. It'll be a hammer.

[Goon]: Right (inaudible).

[Occupier]: Get out.

[Goon]: You've just threatened me with a hammer (inaudible).

[Occupier]: Where are you going sir? You come to my door. TV Licence, yeah?

[Goon]: No, I'm not from TV Licensing.

[Occupier]: Who are you then? Explain who you are.

[Goon]: I hope you keep that (the video), because you just threatened me on that, with a hammer.

[Occupier]: Yeah. Go on ahead sir. Come to my door, you don't explain who you are. TV Licence, right?

[Goon]: No, I'm not.

[Occupier]: Coming here intimidating old... You thought you were going to come here to intimidate a single mum, didn't you? Or an old person?

[Goon]: Sorry?

[Occupier]: Yeah. Who are you sir? Explain who you are.

[Goon gestures with hand and walks outside with back to occupier. Occupier follows goon down path]

[Occupier]: That's your car there sir? (Camera pans to dark coloured Ford Focus estate, registration number CFZ 6393).

[Goon]: No, that's not my car.

[Occupier]: Where'd you park at? Who are you?

[Goon]: It's nothing to do with you.

[Occupier]: You come to my door and don't say who you are.

[Goon gestures and speaks directly to the camera]

[Goon]: You just threatened me with a hammer.

[Occupier]: Who are you?

[Goon]: I'm going to report you to the police for threatening me with a hammer.

[Goon turns and walks down road]

[Occupier]: Go on sir. Bye bye. Don't come to my door again.

If you watch the video carefully you will notice that the occupier DOES NOT directly threaten the goon with a hammer. He simply says that he'll have one if the goon, who lashed out just seconds earlier, chooses to return.

A concluding reminder, as if one is needed, that a TV licence is only needed for those properties where equipment is installed or used to receive TV programme services. Anyone who does not require a TV licence is under no legal obligation whatsoever to communicate or co-operate with TV Licensing and they should refuse to do so.

Given their lacklustre approach to handling complaints, we somehow doubt TV Licensing will take any action against this individual. We hope they take the time to watch this video carefully, as we'd expect their man to have a very poor recollection of his actions during this particular visit.

Edit (24/1/14): Please see our latest post, where we identify the TV Licensing goon featured above as Paul Bale.