A MAN who illegally turned his garage into a bedroom has been fined more than £1,000.

John Farrugia, of Maypole Place, Chigwell, admitted converting the garage without planning permission at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Thursday, March 2.

Farrugia was given approval by Epping Forest council to build a garage adjoining his home in November 2014.

However, the building was instead constructed as bedroom for his son, Peter. Windows were fitted and no garage door was installed.

A retrospective application to use the garage as a dwelling was then rejected by Epping Forest council in September 2015.

A planning enforcement notice was served on Peter, the registered owner of the property, in November 2015, but the building continued to be used as a bedroom.

His father made a second unsuccessful application for change of use the following month, which was also turned down, with the council ordering the building be converted into a garage no later than October 2016.

Ownership of the property was then transferred to Luke Farrugia, another son of John Farrugia.

The dad pleaded guilty to building the bedroom without planning permission and was fined £1,075 when the case was brought to court last month.

He admitted even though the property was in his son’s name, he had no knowledge of the proceedings.

Prosecution against Luke was withdrawn, but if the pair still refuse to make changes to the building, a second prosecution will be sought against both of them.