Emrah Aktas, the owner of local York takeaway Pepperoni Palace is facing fines of over £5000 after selling food and drink without a license.

The takeaway, located on Walpole Street, was not licensed to sell any food or drink after 11pm due to time limit restrictions.

An investigation from York city council last year resulted in the sale of food and drink after the allowed time when council enforcers made a test purchase post 11pm.

Enforcers had visited the establishment many times before the test purchase was made, and a York city council spokesperson stated they had given “warnings about operating without a license and gave advice on how to apply for a license”.

More recently, Mr Aktas failed to respond to a request for an interview or to the summons and didn’t attend court, resulting in a guilty verdict being reached in his absence.

Mr Aktas was fined £2000 and was ordered to pay costs of £2547.28 and a surcharge of £800 to be paid within 20 days following his guilty verdict.

Jenny Kent, executive member for environment at the council, said:  “Licences are required for a reason, and time limits are important to protect local residents from undue disturbance at anti-social hours”.