‘The dog’s watching, not me...’

Dexter the 10-month-old Doberman pet of boxer Nicola Adams holds his boxer stuffed toy as he watches her gold medal fight on a television in his kennel in Leeds, West Yorkshire. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday August 9, 2012. As Nicola Adams triumphed in the ExCeL arena, her dog, Dexter, was excitedly watching the action 200 miles away. The 10-month-old Doberman had the gold medal winning fight beamed directly into his "apartment" at the Leeds pet boarding centre where he is staying while Adams is busy conquering the world in London. See PA story OLYMPICS Adams Dog. Photo credit should read: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire
Dexter the 10-month-old Doberman pet of boxer Nicola Adams holds his boxer stuffed toy as he watches her gold medal fight on a television in his kennel in Leeds, West Yorkshire. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday August 9, 2012. As Nicola Adams triumphed in the ExCeL arena, her dog, Dexter, was excitedly watching the action 200 miles away. The 10-month-old Doberman had the gold medal winning fight beamed directly into his "apartment" at the Leeds pet boarding centre where he is staying while Adams is busy conquering the world in London. See PA story OLYMPICS Adams Dog. Photo credit should read: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire

TV licence evaders in Calderdale have been using far-fetched excuses for not paying up.

“I don’t watch TV, it’s only on for the dog,” was the line given by one Halifax resident when caught by an enquiry officer, while in Todmorden, one evader said “I haven’t been paying because it’s in my two-year-old daughters name. I thought it was free”.

The list of excuses ranges from sublime to hilarious across West Yorkshire, with one resident in Leeds saying “I have only just passed my driving test. I haven’t done a test for my TV licence”, while one Wakefield man claimed “I don’t watch TV because me and the wife make our own films.

“We’re in the bath at the moment so go away.”

Matthew Thompson, TV Licensing spokesperson, added: “We are effective at catching evaders but it’s not surprising a few of those caught will try and avoid taking responsibility. Fewer than two per cent of households only watch catch up TV, so the vast majority of homes need a TV Licence.

“We would much rather people buy a TV Licence than make an fanciful excuse and face prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.”