A businessman who ripped the flooring out of Kingston’s historic former Regal Cinema without planning consent will pay £75,000.

Franco Lumba, owner of FL Trading Limited, “defiantly” tore apart the floor of the old bingo hall in Richmond Road, despite numerous warnings from planning officers not to do so.

At Croydon Crown Court on Monday, he pleaded guilty to executing work or alterations to the Grade II listed building between August 24 and October 26, 2010.

The case was moved from Kingston due to “animosity” in the area, and Lumba only changed his plea days before the trial was to start.

Wearing a dark suit, Lumba stood in the dock as prosecutor Richard Heller accused the 45-year-old of ignoring officers’ warnings.

Mr Heller said: “The entire floor had been reduced to rubble. The brick walls were noticeable in excess of one metre.

“The floor was an intrinsic part of the building. Even if restoration is achieved, because the floor has gone, the historical material from which it would be built would not be available anymore.

“Mr Lumba has made the site more open to development.

“Mr Lumba was warned on numerous occasions. These warnings were ignored.”

The court heard how Lumba had refused to meet Kingston Council planning officers and even told an officer if the council wished to prosecute him they could do so.

Defence counsel Philip Evans blamed Lumba’s behaviour on his dyslexia and issues with reading and writing.

He also said when Lumba purchased the building, its flooring was already in a bad condition.  Mr Evans said: “The work that was done to this building was not the demolishing of a listed building.

“There is much that makes this building listed. The floor is just one.”

Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon said: “He has taken the law into his own hands defiantly with no regard. When he was warned, he went ahead, blatantly disregarding the warning.

“In terms of finances, he would gain. Taking this into account this is a bad case of its type.

“Though the case may be controversial I could not place it in the exceptional.

“Therefore it must be met with a financial penalty.”

The court heard how Lumba has £5.6m tied up in properties across London, including in Kingston, as well as a number of bank accounts, a company in Spain and a motor yacht.

Lumba, of St Margaret’s Road, Twickenham, was fined £45,000 and ordered to pay £29,200 in costs over eight months.

Lumba originally bought the building for less than £1m.

It was confirmed that a contract worth £2.6m had been exchanged with CNM Estates for the site that will include residential use.