A BUSINESSMAN has shelved plans to transform a town centre eyesore into a £1.5m development in protest at fines imposed on him in a row over a sex shop.

David Gill was ordered to pay £4,000 by magistrates after he pleaded guilty to knowingly permitting one of the premises he owns to be used as a sex shop without a licence.

Mr Gill, aged 57, said: “The council are trying to do that end of town up but they have shot themselves in the foot.

“They were thrilled to bits when I showed them my plans but then at the same time they have had me fined. I won’t go ahead with the plans now.”

Mr Gill, of Hill Side, Heaton, owns three shops in Bridge Street, one of which is run by the tenant as sex shop, Softys’ Hard Stuff, made famous by TV show That Peter Kay Thing.

The businessman claimed he did not know the full extent of the business being run from the building, and said he wrote to the shop last year giving them 30 days to clean up their act.

In court, he pleaded guilty to allowing the premises to be used as a sex shop for 25 days, on the advice of his lawyer, but was shocked by the level of the fine.

He added: “To fine me when the business owner has not been fined is ridiculous. The plans look great but I’ll go to hell before I do up those shops.

“I was planning to build shops and flats. The building would have been worth somewhere in the region of £1.5m but the council is now stuck with what is basically an eyesore.”

A council spokesman said: “Mr Gill’s plans were approved by the planning department but it is his decision as to whether or not to proceed with those plans.”

Mr Gill is appealing against the fine and says he now plans to sell his shops and move abroad.

The headline of an article printed on Saturday suggested Mr Gill was the “boss” of Softys’ Hard Stuff. We have been asked to make clear he has no involvement with the running of the business and apologise for any confusion caused.