A Ipswich takeaway restaurant boss has been fined for selling food and drink after hours.

Besat Ulas was warned about selling late night refreshments at Mamma Mia Pizza and Grill after an undercover licensing officer bought food after 11pm last June.

The purchase was made after an incomplete application to sell food and drink beyond 11pm was rejected by the borough council.

Five months after the warning, an enforcement officer returned to Clapgate Lane and watched a member of the public buy hot food from the restaurant after hours.

Ulas, of East Cliff, Dover, was due to stand trial for selling late night refreshments on June 1 and carrying on the unauthorised activity until November 11.

On the day of the magistrates’ court hearing in Ipswich on Tuesday, he admitted the single charge from June 1 and was fined £150.

An Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) spokesman said: “An enforcement officer visited the premises and advised the owner of the need for a licence to sell hot food and/or drink after 11pm and before 5am.

“An application for a premises licence was submitted. However, the applicant omitted to send a plan of the premises or to advertise the application in the press. Therefore, the application was rejected as incomplete.

“On June 1, 2017, the officer visited the premises after 11pm and purchased hot food. He got a receipt signed by Mr Ulas for the food.

“IBC wrote to Mr Ulas advising we were considering prosecuting, and he wrote back saying he wasn’t there and didn’t know the shop was opening after 11pm.

“Subsequently, on November 11 and 12, the officer observed the premises, and on one occasion observed a member of the public purchasing hot food after 11pm.

“We decided to prosecute Mr Ulas for carrying on a licensable activity when not holding a licence to do so.

“The penalty under the Licensing Act is an unlimited fine and/or up to six months imprisonment.

“Mr Ulas pleaded guilty to the first charge, and in consideration of this, IBC didn’t pursue the second charge.”

Magistrates took into account his limited means and previous good character, fining him £150 and ordering him to pay £2,000 towards costs, with a £30 surcharge towards victim services.