A CAR owner has been fined for illegally advertising his parked vehicle for sale on a roadside.

Luigi Alija, of Streatham High Road, failed to appear at Bromley Magistrates’ Court and in his absence was found guilty of unlicensed street trading.

He was fined £350 and ordered to pay £200 in costs as well as a £15 victim surcharge.

The court heard that in August last year a Bromley Council enforcement officer found a blue Volkswagen Golf parked in Croydon Road, Penge, near the junction with Derwent Road.

There were signs advertising the car for sale displayed in the front and rear windows.

The matter came to court after Alija, the car’s owner, failed to pay a £100 fixed penalty notice.

Bromley Council’s head of street environment Peter Turvey said: “It is illegal to sell anything in the street unless you have a street trading licence and cars are no different to other goods.

“There is a risk that without a system of licenses, street trading causes nuisance and danger.

“We have a duty to keep our streets safe and clean and anyone advertising their vehicle for sale on the street risks having it removed and receiving a fixed penalty notice.”

To report vehicles or other illegally advertised items for sale on the street, call the council’s street services on 020 8313 4621.