Sylvia may yet get her fortnight in jail

Sylvia Hardy, the 72-year old Council Tax rebel from Devon, is expecting to be sentenced shortly for her non-payment of the full Council Tax increases. She should soon get a summons to make a third appearance at her local magistrates court.

Bailiffs have twice been round to her house to seize goods worth the £86 or so which she owes from last year. But, as she was not in either time, they referred the matter back to the magistrates. She expects to get either a two-week jail sentence or an attachment order on her pension.

Obviously, she and her fellow campaigners would prefer the photo opportunities of a prison sentence. They fear enormous increases when the Council Tax revaluation comes through in 2007. But magistrates do not like sentencing publicity-seekers to jail and she is a photogenic, articulate lady who could hold her own with the press and would keep her upper lip perfectly stiff as she went into the women's prison in Gloucester.

Attachment orders on pensioners are very rare, as most people tend to have desisted from unruly behaviour by that age. However, citizens' advice bureaux say that money can be deducted from Pension Credit and occupational pensions, but not from the state pension. And if people owe more than £700, they can be made bankrupt for the debt.

The former social worker has an occupational pension and some small savings. Magistrates are under a duty in their sentencing to try all other options before prison. So they may be able to avoid that route for a while to come. But Ms Hardy is already building up a debt for the current year (a liability for her full annual bill of £651). In another year or so, the beaks will probably exhaust the alternative routes - and this campaigner from Exeter is likely to get her fortnight in prison then.

The charity Counsel and Care is asking people aged 60 and over to send in photographs (deadline 29 July) 'illustrating the positive side of later life'. Ring Sandra Koranteng (on 020 7241 8555) for an entry form (or download from www.counselandcare.org.uk) for this competition, which offers a £500 first prize.

Other moves are afoot to improve representation of pensioners. Last week the Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Bill was introduced to the House of Lords - paving the way for someone with 'powers of review, examination and assistance' to, among other things, promote awareness of the rights of older people, help them make complaints and represent them in some cases.