TWO men were caught red-handed trying to sell gloves door-to-door in a north Cumbrian village, without a licence which would have allowed them to do so legally.

Jack Ford, 31, and 32-year-old Scott McKenzie were prosecuted using a 153-year-old law — the Pedlars Act 1871 — after an incident near Penrith on the afternoon of October 7.

Prosecutor George Shelley told Carlisle Magistrates’ Court: “Police were called by a member of the public who lives in Stainton after a male had tried to sell items.”

Officers conducted an area search and located both Ford and McKenzie.

“A constable asked the males if they had been selling door-to-door. They confirmed that they had. The officer asked what they had been selling. Mr McKenzie replied ‘gloves’ and proceeded to show officers the items,” said the prosecutor.

These gloves were contained in a gym-style bag and the men’s descriptions were logged.

Both were asked whether they had the required pedlar’s licence. One replied: “No. We don’t peddle. We are just taking offers.”

McKenzie also claimed: “You don’t need a pedlar’s licence around here. I’ve been here, like, 20 times. Everybody knows me. I’m on first name basis.”

Police reported both men who were then charged. They did not show at court on Friday, having also failed to attend a previous hearing. No explanation had been provided to explain their non-attendance, a court legal advisor confirmed.

As a result, magistrates heard the prosecution’s case in their absence, and found it proved. The Bench was also told that Ford, c/o Holmwood Avenue, and McKenzie, of Aire Street, both Middlesbrough, had, respectively, 36 and 15 past offences on their criminal records.

They were also sentenced in their absence. Each man must pay a fine of £60 within 28 days, along with £85 costs and a £24 mandatory surcharge.