The family of a mother-of-five who died from a sudden heart attack have spoken of their heartbreak after discovering she has been prosecuted for not paying her TV licence - THREE MONTHS after her death.

Yvonne Daly, of Dunnyshop Avenue in Ferngore, collapsed and died in the street from a suspected heart attack in April leaving behind five children, the youngest who is just ten years old.

But her family were this week horrified to discover that Yvonne was later ‘convicted in her absence’ of using a television without a licence at Blackburn Magistrates Court last month. She was fined £220 and ordered to pay £120 in costs on July 11.

Her daughter Jolene, 25, said she was disgusted when she heard that her mother had been prosecuted after her death.

She said: “We’re all trying to cope with her death and then to see that was absolutely heartbreaking.

“We were more angry than anything else.

“We had heard nothing from TV Licensing, no letters or phone calls, I thought when somebody died everybody was informed.”

Jolene said the family have now had to send her mother’s death certificate to the court to try and sort the matter. She said: “I want an apology for what they have put us through, we didn’t know anything about the court case, one of my friends told me and I thought it was absolutely disgusting.”

Yvonne’s mother Eileen Cash, 62, said the family were left horrified when they found out. She said: “I knew nothing about it until my grandson rang me and told me about it, we never knew anything about this TV licence offence. We had no letters, somebody else lives in her old house now and her daughter Jolene had stopped the post from going to that address.

“It’s been very upsetting for all of us, especially her children, her youngest son Bailey lives with me now but he’s too young to understand.”

Blackburn magistrates court said the fine has been suspended with a view to being written off.

A spokesperson for TV Licensing said: “When prosecution was initiated prior to Miss Daly’s unforeseen and tragic death, the matter passed into the hands of the court. The court would have withdrawn the case had it been aware of Miss Daly’s death, as would TV Licensing had we been notified.

“TV Licensing make every effort to ensure accurate details are provided. We have requested for the case and fine to be withdrawn.”