A FISH & chip shop manager caught without a TV Licence has been ordered to pay £420 by magistrates.

Mr Nicholas Sparsi, manager of Kingfisher on Lampits Hill, Corringham, was fined £200 for using a TV without a licence on the business premises.

He was also ordered to pay £200 costs and a £20 victim surcharge at the hearing on Tuesday, August 12, at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court.

Martin Dyan, TV Licensing spokesperson for the South East, said: “We appreciate these are tough times for businesses, but to be fair to the majority who do pay the licence fee, we have to take action against those who watch TV illegally.

Any business that shows television programmes as they're being shown on TV, whether for customers’ use or in staff areas, must be covered by a valid TV Licence.

Those without a valid licence run the risk of a court prosecution and can be fined up to £1,000 per offence.

Mr Dyan added: “As our survey shows, those businesses who do try to get away with it might find the price of being caught to be higher than just a fine.

“We’d rather businesses think ahead and check if they need a licence than risk being prosecuted. A licence costs £145.50 and can be bought in minutes online at www.tvlicensing.co.uk/business.”