A BUSKER has been ordered to pay costs of more than £1500 after breaking ‘performance rules’.

Piotr Kolodziej has appeared in court after breaching a community protection notice issued for his busking around the conurbation.

The notice ordered Kolodziej did not use amplification, drums, trumpets, or other loud instruments in his performances, and that his sound levels were not intrusive.

It was also ordered that he did not busk in one location for more than 45 minutes and did not return to the same location within the same 24 hours, with each new location having to be more than 100 metres away from the last.

Kolodziej was told he would have to act on any reasonable instructions given by an authorised council officer or the police.

However, the defendant was taken to court after he reportedly used amplification on numerous occasions last year.

He was found guilty of breaching the order in Boscombe and Christchurch on August 3, 8 and 12, September 16 and November 29.

Kolodziej was not present for his sentencing at Poole Magistrates’ Court on March 20.

He was fined £500, ordered to pay costs of £840 and a victim surcharge of £200.

Last summer, a video of a row between a busker and market manager in Poole’s high street went viral.

James Tofalli, known as Piano Man, was playing his piano in Poole before he was confronted by a market manager who told him to leave, seeing an argument erupt.

Busking is not illegal in the UK but local authorities will tell buskers byelaws or rules they must observe.

These include not making too much noise, not blocking public highways, not displaying notices asking for payment, not carrying out street trading and only busking in certain parts of the town or for a limited period of time.

Explaining the rules on busking, BCP Council said: “Busking is not usually considered a licensable activity under the Licensing Act 2003, but if noise objections are raised by others in the vicinity, buskers may be asked to turn their music down.

“This guideline is there to ensure that everyone enjoys visiting, shopping and trading on the high street.”