The mother of snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan has been fined over £35,000 for running an illegal sex shop in Kings Cross.

Maria O’Sullivan was successfully prosecuted by Islington council for owning and operating the unlicensed business on York Way.

"Pirate Bookshop" is owned by Ballaction London Ltd, where O'Sullivan is the sole director - on Thursday she was ordered by Highbury Magistrates to pay fines and costs totalling £35,360.

She has apparently attempted to run several sex-related businesses in north London over recent years and was jailed for a year in 1996 for tax evasion.

Caledonian Ward Councillor Paul Convery said:

"I am very pleased that the Council’s case has been successful. For nearly 5 years, we have repeatedly called for legal action against unlicensed sex shops in Kings Cross. The first step in ridding the area of it’s vice reputation is to get rid of every vice-related business, particularly the ones that refuse to be licensed by the local authority. Our policy is simple – zero tolerance against all types of sleazy and illegal sex related activities."

The company was fined £17,500 plus £2,830 costs and £15 victim support surcharge and Maria O’Sullivan was personally fined £15,000 plus £15 victim support surcharge.

Her son is about to compete in the Star Xing Pai Players Tour Championship in Sheffield after losing the final of the UK Open last week.