AN ICE-CREAM man was ordered to pay £950 for selling food from his van illegally.

Kevin Hufton, of Longwood Road, was yesterday found guilty in his absence at Huddersfield Magistrates’ Court.

He was convicted of four counts of engaging in street trading without a permit.

Mrs Carol English, prosecuting, said consent has been needed to trade on any street in Kirklees since May 1993.

She told the court Hufton was first spotted opposite Salendine Nook High School selling hot-dogs from his red van on February 12 this year.

Kirklees Council officers accompanied by a policeman were responding to complaints from the public that Hufton might be selling alcohol.

When officers approached the van they could see Hufton serving customers.

Hufton assured them he wasn’t serving alcohol and said they could search the van.

No alcohol was found, but Hufton was told he didn’t have a permit to sell food and he should drive away.

Hufton left but later the same day parked up across the road next to the school.

He told council officers he had permission from the headteacher of the high school to park his van on the land.

Mrs English said: “The officers made enquiries with the headteacher of the school who was quite adamant permission hadn’t been given.

“Hufton was again asked to remove his vehicle.

“He was clearly being quite difficult about this particular issue.”

The council records were checked and it was noted Hufton didn’t have a permit to trade.

The ice-cream van was spotted again on New Hey Road on March 5, and Hufton could be seen selling hot-dogs and drinks to a queue of 12 children.

On July 11, the day of Huddersfield Caribbean Carnival, council officers saw the van was parked on double yellow lines on Westbourne Road outside Greenhead Park.

They told Hufton he wasn’t allowed to park there or sell food.

Mrs English said: “Mr Hufton became abusive towards the officers and used very abusive names.

“He told one officer he was going to smash his face in.”

The police were called and Hufton was moved on.

But three hours later officers saw he had returned to sell food.

Chairman of the magistrates, John Rotchell, fined Hufton £175 for the first two offences outside Salendine Nook High School.

He fined him £200 for the second offence outside the school.

Hufton was fined a further £260 for the offence outside Greenhead Park, which Mr Rotchell said was aggravated by Hufton’s abusive behaviour.

Hufton will also pay £300 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.