A businessman who could not demonstrate he was disposing of his waste legally has been handed a record-breaking fine.

Sooriyakumar Tharmalingam, owner of Food Corner Express in Rayners Lane, found himself in court after ignoring requests from Harrow Council to prove he was disposing of his rubbish legally.

Mr Tharmalingam, 48, was slapped with a £2,370 fine and ordered to pay another £2,708 in council costs by Willesden magistrates on August 16.

The fine is the largest ever given for this type of offence in this area of London.

Council leader Sachin Shah said: “Harrow taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for cleaning up after people who illegally dispose of their rubbish, so we’re keeping the pressure up on shops and restaurants to see that they’re properly managing their waste.

“Mr Tharmalingam was trying to give us the run around but we have the full weight of the law on our side – ignoring our letters is a very expensive mistake.

“I’m delighted by the size of the fine and our recovery of costs – it’s a big win for Harrow residents and sends a very strong message to any business owners thinking of taking shortcuts on waste disposal.”

Businesses in the UK are required by law to pay a licenced waste carrier to dispose of their rubbish. Local councils can demand to see evidence that these arrangements are in place.