AN ILLEGAL street trader twice caught peddling umbrellas and gloves on Market Street has been slapped with a hefty £1009 by the Council.

"This case should serve as a warning that we can and do prosecute those illegal traders who willingly flaunt the law"

Cheikh Gueye, 44, of Hemmons Road, Levenshulme, was first spotted illegally trading by a Council official on Manchester's Market Street in November 2013.

Gueye was warned that his actions were illegal, received a caution and had his goods confiscated.

Ignoring this warning, Gueye returned to Market Street in December 2013 trying to peddle the same goods. Once again he was apprehended.

At a hearing on February 5, Gueye was fined £200 with £299 costs for the first offence and £300 with £250 costs for the second offence with a £30 victims of crime surcharge – a total of £1009 (roughly 400 umbrellas or 1009 pairs of gloves).

The City Council received new powers to crack down on people attempting to use pedlar’s certificates to trade illegally on busy city centre streets, after a private Act of Parliament was passed in 2010.

The Act ensures that pedlars are only allowed to remain in the same location for five minutes before moving on to another spot. This is to curb people abusing pedlar’s certificates.

"Wait till i get my hands on that street pedlar"

A pedlar's certificate allows the holder to trade small goods whilst on foot (door to door for example), but not from a static position. The pedlar is not allowed to set up a stall, as this would require a full street trader's licence.

Pedlar's certificates are often open to abuse as they are cheap (£12.25) and easily obtainable, allowing rogue pedlars to masquerade as licenced street vendors.

Cllr Bernard Priest, Manchester City Council’s deputy leader, said: "This case should serve as a warning that we can and do prosecute those illegal traders who willingly flaunt the law, undermining the efforts of the city centre’s many hard working legitimate traders."

Confidential reported on a very similar incident back in March 2012.