Ikramuddin Rudwal owns Flavas takeaway in Bedford Hill
A fast food owner in Wandsworth must pay more than £5,000 after being taken to court by the council for causing a nuisance to residents nearby.
Ikramuddin Rudwal, who owns the Flavas takeaway in Bedford Hill, repeatedly stayed open to serve customers beyond his permitted trading hours, despite being warned that licensing officers were investigating complaints.
Neighbours were exposed to noise from customers who shouted, argued, slammed car doors or left their stereos blaring.
Wandsworth’s environment spokesman Councillor Jonathan Cook said Mr Rudwal was more interesting in boosting his own profits than being a good neighbour.
“Mr Rudwal just wouldn’t take no for an answer. It didn’t matter to him that there were very reasonable rules in place that enabled him to run a successful business but also gave his neighbours some peace and quiet,” he said.
“Unfortunately for him, the steep fines and court costs he must now pay will almost certainly have wiped out any profits he generated from this unlawful behaviour.”
Magistrates heard that Flavas was supposed to close its doors every night at 2am, but on July 1 last year officers visited the takeaway and were able to purchase food at 2.49am.
A number of warnings were issued after officers again visited the premises and were able to buy food after 2am.
Mr Rudwal then failed to turn up for two formal taped interviews and continued to flout the law, despite having failed in his request to extend his opening hours until 4am in May this year.
Mr Rudwal was fined £1,600 and ordered to pay the council’s legal costs of £3,737 after admitting eight breaches of the Licensing Act 2003 at Richmond magistrates court earlier this week.
Photo courtesy of by Looking Glass, with thanks
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