Last updated 19:42, Thursday, 12 June 2008

THE BOSS of a Maryport limousine firm has been left with a £500 bill after being found guilty of running the business illegally.

Michael Ronald Bell, proprietor of West Coast Limos, was found guilty by West Allerdale magistrates of driving a stretch limousine without a private hire driver or vehicle licence, having no operator licence and carrying alcohol on board for sale without a premises licence.

The prosecution was brought by Allerdale council in a joint operation with Cumbria police and included evidence gathered by a council officer who posed as a customer booking Bell’s limousine service.

The court heard that on January 31 Bell had driven a white L-registration Lincoln town car at Derwent Howe, Workington, without possessing a private hire vehicle licence for the car or holding a private hire drivers’ licence for himself.

He was also found to be carrying three bottles of sparkling wine in the limousine, intended for sale by retail, despite not having a premises licence to sell alcohol.

Trevor Gear, Allerdale council’s legal executive, said: “An officer of Allerdale Borough Council telephoned West Coast Limos and discussed hiring a vehicle.

“She was told that the price for four hours would be £280 or three hours for £220 and that this price would include two bottles of complimentary bubbly.

“She made a booking for Thursday 31 January at Workington Bowling Alley, Derwent Howe.”

A police officer and the council’s enforcement officer were there to meet Mr Bell.

Magistrates heardthat this was the first offence of its kind for Bell, 41, of Peart Road, Grasslot.

He was fined a total of £300 and ordered to pay £185 costs along with a £15 victim surcharge. The three bottles of sparkling wine were seized and destroyed under the Licensing Act 2003.