Curry smells wafting across Colchester have cost a restaurant owner dear.

The balti house owner was fined by Colchester magistrates for failing to comply with an abatement order to control cooking smells from his Butt Road premises.

Ikbhal Miah , 30, of the Sitar Balti House, admitted contravention of an abatement notice on July 9 last year.

Lilangi Cook, for Colchester Council, told magistrates the council continued to receive complaints after October 18 last year and the nuisance continued between January and March this year.

But she told Colchester magistrates yesterday (Thursday) he had recently contacted the council to say filters had been installed.

A letter from Miah's solicitor stated he cooked with garlic and ginger and the aromas were neutralised by cooking and did not give off a detectable odour, she said.

The letter stated Miah bought the Colchester shop last year and had spent £1,000 on it.

Mrs Cook said inspectors had looked at filters in the kitchen and a fan and said work had not been carried out to their satisfaction.

Miah, who was not represented by a solicitor in court, said a contractor was going to change part of a filter chimney at the restaurant.

Chairman of the bench, Christopher Perry, fined Miah £400 and ordered him to pay £100 costs. He said: "We do appreciate you have tried everything to put matters right."

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