AN ICE cream seller has been prosecuted for street trading in the Caerphilly county borough without a licence.

Imran Ashiq of Colwyn Bay, trading as Mr Tee King of Desserts, pleaded guilty by post to three offences under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.

The operation came to the attention of the Licensing Section of Caerphilly County Borough Council via social media. The business asks prospective customers to like their Facebook posts to encourage the mobile ice cream van to visit their town.

Venues are posted at short notice on Facebook, with vans appearing and selling desserts and ice creams for several hours.

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Mr Ashiq traded from vans at Crumlin, Bargoed and Blackwood in June and July 2018 without first obtaining consent from the council. Ashiq was fined a total of £999 and instructed to pay council costs of £675.50 and £33 victim surcharge.

Cllr Eluned Stenner, the council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Public Protection, said: “The council requires all street traders to obtain consent, whether they’re static fast food outlets or mobile vans.

“Operating without consent is unfair to those traders who comply with the law and also places members of the public at risk; with unlicensed traders escaping scrutiny in relation to litter control and road safety.”