A grieving woman battling mental health struggles has been convicted of not paying her TV Licence, sparking controversy and calls for reform. The Single Justice Procedure (SJP) system, under scrutiny, is under pressure and has been criticized for its impact on vulnerable individuals. The woman, who lost her mother and is dealing with depression, chronic fatigue, and sleep deprivation, was prosecuted for not paying her annual TV Licence fee of £174.50. She had switched banks and was unaware her direct debit had stopped, leading to the missed payment. The court heard her detailed account of her recent bereavement and its impact on her daily life, highlighting the challenges she faces in managing finances and household bills. The SJP system, operating in closed court sessions, has been criticized for its lack of transparency and the routine convictions of vulnerable people, including those in hospital, under mental health care, or with dementia or cancer. TV Licensing, the agency bringing the prosecution, defended its actions, citing the need to enforce the law and ensure fair payment of TV Licence fees. The BBC, supporting the current system, suggested improvements could be made by magistrates referring cases to prosecutors more frequently when important mitigation is present. The Labour government has yet to act on the responses to a consultation on SJP reform, leaving the system unchanged and continuing to process thousands of low-level criminal cases weekly.