A DUDLEY restaurant boss has been hit with a £1,430 court bill after admitting breaching licence conditions at her family restaurant.

Wolverhampton Magistrates Court heard that Augustine Nsinga, who operates Afro Coast Cuisine in King Street, Dudley, was in effect running it as a nightclub, having unlicensed music after their permitted hours.

Nsinga pleaded guilty to one offence of playing unlicensed music after permitted hours and two offences of supplying false information to obtain temporary licenses, at a hearing on November 14.

She applied for temporary licenses apparently for family celebrations but investigation of social media uncovered that these were in fact to allow known DJs and their followers to use the premises as a venue.

Police checked the premises in the early hours one weekend in January and discovered unlicensed activity. This information was passed to Dudley Council's licensing team and further investigation discovered the false application offences.

Nsinga was fined £300 for each offence and was also ordered to pay a £30 surcharge and £300 costs.

Alan Lunt, deputy chief executive at Dudley Council, said: This is a great example of the council, police and community members working together to ensure justice is served.

"It is a reminder to licence holders that they need to ensure they are fully compliant or they too could face the strong arm of the law."

The premises is now operating with a new licence with strict conditions attached.