A JUDGE today backed an academic who refused to pay her council tax after blaming the city's controversial fortnightly bin collections for rats in her home.

Dr Frances Kennett, 62, was told by district judge Brian Loosley she had no legal excuse to skip the monthly instalment to Oxford City Council in protest.

But he did tell her he believed there was a connection between the city's switch from weekly to fortnightly general rubbish collection and the rats in her home in Great Clarendon Street, Jericho.

Tonight, Jean Fooks, the city council's executive member for a cleaner city, described the judge's view as "absolute rubbish" and said it would not do a U-turn over the controversial policy.

Dr Kennett was summoned to Oxford Magistrates' Court after withholding April's £131 instalment of council tax. She had planned to plead not guilty, but Mr Loosley said he had no option but to grant the liability order to the city council.

However, he added that he was lucky enough to have weekly collection in west Oxfordshire - and added that he felt sorry for Dr Kennett, a fundraiser at Oxford University. Mr Loosley said: "I have every sympathy with her with regard to the rat infestation she has, which appears to be caused by the council's decision to move to fortnightly waste collection.

"In these circumstances, I consider it wrong for me to award any costs against Dr Kennett and I would hope that the council, particularly the environmental health department, would contact Dr Kennett to discuss her problem before taking enforcement action."

Dr Kennett said she was appealing to a revaluation tribunal because her property had been "blighted" by the infestation.

She has also referred the case to the local government ombudsman.

Following the hearing, Dr Kennett said: "This is an embarrassing day for Oxford City Council."

Ms Fooks dismissed Mr Loosley's comments and added: "Rats have been found next door to Dr Kennett's home and we are trying to help neighbours get rid of the problem."

Ms Fooks said in Jericho and Osney in 2004, there were 80 call-outs for rats up to the end of September, in 2005 there were 50, in 2006 there were 33, and in 2007 there were 40.

She said: "We are more than happy to talk to Dr Kennett to offer her our pest control service. I sympathise because it is not pleasant to have rats in your home but I do urge Dr Kennett to pay her council tax.

"The number of (rat) call-outs is still half the total from three years ago, which does suggest there is no connection with the introduction of fortnightly collections."

East Oxford resident Annie Skinner was one of several residents at court supporting Dr Kennett.

She said: "She is certainly not the only one. I had rats outside my basement kitchen during the summer."