Fined busker 'driven out of town'

A busker fined for street trading says he has been driven "out of the town that I love", after being ordered to pay more than £11,000.

Former Shrewsbury busker Jason Allan was fined £1,000 for street trading and £2,500 for distributing leaflets without permission at Telford Magistrates' Court - the maximum penalties for the offences - along with costs.

Mr Allan has accused Shropshire Council, which took him to court, of harassment and said it just wanted him out of the town.

The authority denied this and stated the prosecution followed four years of verbal and written advice.

Mr Allan was told to pay a victim surcharge of £1,400 and prosecution costs of £6,286.30 last week.

He was ordered to pay the fines for selling an event ticket and distributing flyers.

He was found guilty in his absence of street trading without permission in Pride Hill, Shrewsbury, on 3 November 2023.

Mr Allan, who said he had been a busker for 16 years, told the BBC: "I've busked on lots of different high streets, different councils.

"I've never received the treatment that I have from Shropshire Council."

'Formally warned'

His videos include heart-warming images, but also some of him arguing with people.

He said: "In a full day, say, 5,000 people walk past me and one situation happens where a homeless person might try and take a few pounds, or anything like that, I will clip that, because it's a highlight."

Mr Allan said the council was suspicious of him selling tickets on the street and sent someone undercover to try and purchase a ticket. He also stated he was unaware of the court date.

The authority told the BBC it had been aware for some time that Mr Allan was breaching street trading and environmental protection legislation, and he had been "formally warned about the implications of continuing to do this".

It was "routine practice" for council enforcement officers to undertake test purchases as part of their normal duties, the authority added.

The council said it ensured he knew that continuing to breach requirements would lead to prosecution "if he continued to ignore the advice and warnings in relation to his activities".

It served legal documents at his last known address and using an email address he had used previously to communicate with the council, it stated.

A fundraiser to pay for part of the fine has raised nearly £2,000.