A RETIRED reverend plans to appeal an “unfair” high court judgement dismissing his case against council tax court charges last week.

Reverend Paul Nicolson, from Tottenham, lost his challenge against Grant Thornton, Haringey Council’s auditors, over the cost of fines to people who were late in their payments, at the Royal Courts of Justice, on February 25.

Representing himself, the 83-year-old said people who had paid their council tax in full after receiving a court summons in 2013/14 were still be charged legal costs, despite no longer needing to enter the dock.

Lord Justice Hamblen said this was “factually incorrect” as Haringey Council charged people when sending out a court summons, but people were not forced to pay any further costs beyond that if the council tax was then paid.

The former vicar was ordered to pay £50,000 to Grant Thornton after the case was dismissed.

Mr Nicolson said he is now going to appeal this high court judgment, as he believes the decision by the judge was “wrong”.

He said: “I do not see why I should be charged the £50,000 court costs awarded to Grant Thornton, Haringey's external auditors, when I was factually correct in all that I stated to the court.

“A notice of appeal will be served on Grant Thornton, Haringey Council and Tottenham Magistrates within the next two weeks.”

He added thousands of pounds he has been charged “does not worry” him but he is concerned for people on low wages and benefits who will not be able to afford the charges.

Mr Nicolson said: “Far more serious is the way Grant Thornton, Haringey's auditors, and the High Court Judges ignore the plight of benefit claimants in Tottenham and Haringey who, since April 2013, cannot pay the council tax let alone the court costs and bailiffs fees.

“Benefits, which are provided by central government for survival and shelter, are being cut by the government and then enforced with this tax added with arrears on top of what they already pay. It is grossly unfair.”

He has been challenging court costs since 2013 after previously refusing to pay his council tax and offering himself up as a “test case” to prove that people were being “overcharged”.

In May 2015, he challenged the costs of court summons for those who did not pay their council tax and was successful, resulting in Haringey Council lowering their costs.

Instead of the previous cost of £125, people now have to pay £102 if they receive a court summons.