A Manchester fruit trader has been fined over £500 for illegally selling fruit from the back of a wheeled stall in the city centre.
Mark Turner, aged 54, was found to have committed the offence of illegal street trading and fined £200, with £310 costs.
Manchester City Council licensing compliance officers found Turner selling fruit from a large wheeled stall in June of last year.
They had previously approached him to warn he was committing an offence, but Turner had refused to identify himself or stop trading.
The officers later returned to the same location to find Turner still trading, when he was reported for the offence.
“This individual was brazen in his unlawful trading and bananas to think he would get away with it,” said John Flanagan, of Manchester City Council.
“Illegal traders undermine the hard work of legitimate traders and our action sends a clear message that we will prosecute anyone found doing this.”
He failed to attend the hearing and the case was proved in his absence.