A beauty salon owner in Chiswick has been fined over £1,000 for flouting licensing rules after salon-goers reported concerns over unqualified staff.
Mr Stephen Chen, licensee of China Health Spa Limited in Chiswick High Road was caught following an investigation by Hounslow council's health and safety officers.
A visit to the salon found the business was providing unlicensed treatments including massages by two unregistered female employees working in the basement.
Mr Chen had made no application for the staff to be registered and was unable to show any evidence to council officers of their qualifications, resulting in two offences.
He pleaded guilty to both charges at Feltham Magistrates' Court, and was ordered to pay £600 plus costs of £500 and a victim surcharge of £30, bringing the penalty to £1,130.
Councillor Sue Sampson, cabinet member for community protection at Hounslow council, said: “Treatments can cause serious harm if they are not carried out by a qualified person.
“That is why we ask businesses to register their staff and show evidence via a qualification they are capable of carrying out any such treatment.
“If this is not the case and businesses flout these rules and regulations then they will face the consequences – we will not hesitate to take the toughest action possible. The safety of those customers who use the business are our priority.”
To provide a licensable treatment a person must be registered with Hounslow's special treatment licensing section.
