A takeaway boss has been warned he’s had his chips if he keeps selling food after midnight.

Rafael Margosyan, who runs the Armani Fish and Chip bar in Brighton, has been caught selling fast food after hours three times so far this year.

He has now been told he faces jail if he is caught again.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court Margosyan admitted three charges of breaching a planning condition notice by serving food after midnight.

He was fined £150 for each offence and ordered to pay £400 costs – a total of £850.

Margosyan, who owns the business in St James’s Street, was prosecuted in a joint operation by Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning enforcement and licensing departments and Sussex Police.

Len Batten, prosecuting for the council, told the court in August last year Margosyan was served with a planning notice which banned him from selling food after midnight.

He said over the past few years the business had applied several times to extend opening hours but all applications had been refused by the council due to the adverse affect on neighbours from late-night noise and disturbance.

Two appeals were also dismissed by planning inspectors in 1994 and 2003.

Lynda Hyde, chairman of the council’s planning committee, said: “This case shows how council departments and police are successfully working together to ensure that our residents continue to live in a pleasant environment without having their lives disturbed.

“I am aware that numerous different operators of these premises have being causing problems over the past 20 years. Hopefully this prosecution will give residents confidence that the council will not tolerate such deliberate flouting of our planning and licensing laws."

Local councillors have welcomed the prosecution.

Rachel Fryer, Green ward councillor for Queens Park, said: "We are glad that this has happened at long last. Residents have been complaining to the council regarding problems with these premises for many years.

“The length of time that the local community has had to put up with this nuisance is unacceptable and we will be working hard with officers to make sure this doesn't happen again."