'Council took me to court over £280 market fine - now I'm £12,000 worse off'
A man who was taken to court by his local council after he refused to pay a £280 fine has said he has now been forced to fork out £12,000 in legal costs. Curtain and pillowcase trader Narinder Sharma, 69, was fined for encroachment after hanging his products up across areas outside his stall's remit in a market in Leeds city centre.
Leeds City Council said taking him to court was "a last resort" after repeatedly attempting to engage with him over the matter. The local authority emphasised its commitment to working with local traders.
But the grandfather-of-three said the court date was changed multiple times and he had to pay £6,000 in legal fees. After the trial, Mr Sharma was ordered to pay another £6,000 to the council, LeedsLive reports.
Mr Sharma said his stalls have been covered in dust (Leeds Live/MEN MEDIA)When the court date eventually arrived, Mr Sharma, who has been a stallholder at the city centre market since 1983, said he was left in an impossible position and was advised to plead guilty by his own legal counsel. He said: "I was told if I don't plead guilty it would cost me another £14,000. So, when I'd already spent so much, I didn't want to spend another £14,000."
He admitted he was "guilty" of hanging products up in one space but remains firm in his belief that other spaces he was hanging products were in his stall's remit.
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The businessman added: "Everybody has got gear out. Another guy is out 10-foot, where is the justice? I feel very bad about the management and the council, how they are discriminating between the traders. I feel really bad after spending all that money.
"This is the downfall I feel bad about: after paying £6,000 and then another £6,000 to pay the council. It cost me £12,000 when the fine was only £280. What more can you do? I do feel angry, very bad about it."
Mr Sharma said his stall has not been protected from ongoing construction work and claimed dust has been blowing onto his products, causing people to ask for refunds.
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: "Mr Sharma pleaded guilty in court to five offences. We continue to work proactively with all traders to ensure the unauthorised use of space by market businesses is managed effectively for the safety and comfort of all visitors to the market.
"Taking a trader to court is always a last resort and is only reached after multiple attempts at engaging with the relevant trader, but we will always operate fairly and take action where appropriate.
"Mr Sharma's complaint about the dust was passed onto the building contractor, they have advised him any claim must be dealt with through both parties’ insurance companies."
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