A second-hand furniture seller has been slapped with a hefty fine for illegally street trading and obstructing the highway after action by Ealing Council’s envirocrime prevention team.

Yonice Maroof, owner of Ally Furniture on Boston Road, Hanwell, was found guilty of four counts of trading without a street licence and fined £800 at Acton Magistrates’ Court last week.

Maroof also pleaded guilty to four counts of highway obstruction and was fined £600 and ordered to pay £1,368.94 costs. The offences took place between November 2007 and February 2008.

Councillor Sue Emment, Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Services, said: "The Council took action against Maroof for similar offences last November but he has clearly failed to learn his lesson despite the warnings he was given."

"Cleaner streets is a top priority for the Council and our envirocrime prevention officers work hard to make Ealing a better place to live."

In November 2007 Maroof was fined £250 for illegal street trading, £170 for obstruction and ordered to pay £417 costs.