THE boss of a city-centre wine bar faces a £615 court bill for selling whisky that was not up to proof.

City of York Council prosecuted Vahe Nersessian, of KoKo International, Goodramgate, after trading standards checks revealed its whisky contained less alcohol than claimed on the bottle.

Nersessian, 64, of Farthings, The Glade, Leeds, pleaded guilty to two charges of providing false trades descriptions.

York magistrates accepted that it had been a mistake rather than a deliberate attempt to defraud the public and fined him £50 for each offence, plus £500 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

The case involved a bottle of Connoisseurs Choice single malt Highland Scotch whisky and a bottle of Old Rhodshu single malt Highland Scotch whisky. Both should have contained 40 per cent alcohol.