A fish and chip shop owner has been charged £800 for selling alcohol without a licence.

The joint boss of Ramsgate FC and manager of Papps Fish Bar, Margate, James Ward was cautioned by Thanet council officers and told he must apply for a licence to sell alcohol when they visited the premises in February.

The council say Mr Ward stated that it was not worth applying as he didn't sell much alcohol.

He was then told he would be reported for the offences of selling and displaying alcohol without having a premises licence.

Cabinet member for community services Cllr Lin Fairbrass said: “Anyone selling alcohol has to have a licence. It’s as simple as that. This is irresponsible business practice.”

Mr Ward was summoned to appear at Canterbury Magistrates’ Court last month.

He failed to attend the hearing but was found guilty of exposing alcohol for unauthorised sale under Section 137 of the 2003 Licensing Act.

He was ordered to pay a £500 fine at Canterbury Magistrates Court with £250 costs to TDC and a £50 victim surcharge.

Alongside the £800, the seized alcohol was forfeited and his personal licence, which was granted by the council in 2012, was suspended for six months.