A BUILDER who carried out an illegal loft conversion has been fined £10,000 and told to pay £571 costs.

David Cross admitted failing to submit a building regulation application for the work, failing to tell New Forest District Council that the work had started, and failing to comply with technical standards required under the regulations.

Cross, 61, of West Moors, Ferndown, also asked for four other charges regarding inadequate work to be taken into account.

He was prosecuted by the council after his company, Loft Services, carried out the job at a house in Ringwood.

Speaking after the case at Southampton Magistrates’ Court the council’s building control manager, John Brian, said: “We will be robust in dealing with offenders who disregard legislation designed to protect the public.”