AN ILLEGAL street trader in Stratford has been ordered to pay nearly £6,000 after being prosecuted.
Russell Charlton of Boston, Lincolnshire, had ignored warnings from Stratford District Council’s licensing team following persistent illegal street trading – selling bubble wands and wriggly worms from a large trolley on the Bancroft Gardens last summer.
Charlton was found guilty of five charges of street trading offences at Nuneaton Magistrates Court
He was fined a total of £3,000 and was also ordered to pay the district council’s full costs of £2,920.
In total Mr Charlton had to pay £5,980.
A council licensing spokesman said: “The licensing team have been concerned by unlawful street trading in the public spaces in Stratford.
“An approach of education and advice has proven ineffective in some cases and unlawful trading has continued. This has been the case here with a trader on Bancroft Gardens, where he was using a Pedlar’s Certificate but this doesn’t authorise street trading.
“With the holiday season approaching the team will continue enforcement. Enforcing this legislation helps to protect retail premises in the town from unfair competition.”
