The owner of the Cornish Codfather, a mobile fish and chip van, has been fined after being convicted of operating without consent at Mawnan Smith and Stithians.

Daniel Walters, of Falmouth, was prosecuted by Cornwall Council’s licensing compliance team for trading without having the required street trading consent in place.

He appeared before Truro Magistrates Court last week when he was fined fined £145 for two offences of trading without a consent at Grove Hill in Mawnan Smith and Church Road in Stithians. He had pleaded guilty to both charges. He was also ordered to pay £500 towards Cornwall Council's costs and £30 victim surcharge.

Mark Andrews, prosecuting, told the court that on May 22 last year licensing compliance officers had seen Walters trading at Stithians and then on July 27 he was seen by the same officers trading in Mawnan Smith. Walters did not have in place a street trading consent as required under Schedule 4 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.

In passing sentence the magistrates told Walters, aged 38, that he clearly didn’t like the conditions imposed by the council but nevertheless he needed to follow the rules and have the correct consent.

Following the hearing the investigating officer Andrea Carter said: "Cornwall Council has tried very hard to work with Mr Walters to ensure that he was properly authorised to conduct his business under the provisions of the street trading legislation.

"Unfortunately Mr Walters proved very difficult to deal with and continued to trade without the required consent despite my colleague and I sending out number of requests requiring him to get the correct consent. Ultimately we had no option but to take proceedings against him.”

Cornwall Council cabinet member for environment and public protection, Sue James, said: "Council staff strive to enable Cornwall food businesses to trade legally and safely, important to ensure public health. Where businesses do not cooperate it is right that we prosecute to give public confidence and fairness to other compliant businesses."