A SEX shop owner has been ordered to pay almost £11,000 after refusing to get a licence from the council.

Martin Hale was taken to court by Southampton City Council when he ignored warnings that he needed to renew a licence for his Adult Gift Shop in Howard Road.

Mr Hale, of Warren Crescent, challenged whether his shop came within the definition of a sex shop, denying that he needed a sex establishment licence.

But District Judge Calloway, sitting at Southampton Magistrates’ Court, ruled he had “no doubt in his mind” that the premises were a sex shop.

Mr Hale admitted three offences of trading without a licence. He was sentenced to fines totalling £6,000 and ordered to pay £4,973 costs.

The council charges a £7,500 fee for sex shop licence applications.

Mr Hale has now applied for a licence which is due for consideration at a meeting next month.