A pizza shop owner was fined more than £600 after being caught without a TV licence.

Xhevdet Elezajm, who runs Piazza in Green Lanes, Palmers Green, has been ordered to pay £440 for flouting the rules.

He was fined at Stratford Magistrates Court on July 2 – including £120 for costs and a £44 victim surcharge.

TV Licensing spokesperson Cody Want said: “We appreciate these are tough times for businesses, but to be fair to the majority who do pay the licence fee, we have to take action against those who watch TV illegally.

“As our survey shows, those businesses who do try to get away with it might find the price of being caught to be higher than just a fine.

“We’d rather businesses think ahead and check if they need a licence than risk being prosecuted."

Any business that has a TV, whether for customers or staff, must be covered by a valid TV Licence.

Those without a valid licence run the risk of a fine of up to £1,000 per offence.

Businesses that are found guilty are also required to buy a TV Licence for £150.50 or face a potential second prosecution.