The owner of an award winning Halstead nail bar has been forced to pay out more than £2,000 for illegally offering teeth whitening services.

Victoria Reeve (pictured below), owner of the Nail Bar in Head Street (pictured right), said she had “no option” but to admit one charge of unlawfully practising dentistry when she was summoned to Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

The General Dental Council, which led the prosecution, said Reeve had ignored two warning letters telling her only registered dentists and dental hygienists, therapists or technicians could offer the service.

The court was told the salon sold a do-ityourself method of tooth whitening, which is legal if performed at home but illegal if taken at the nail bar, where a room had been set aside.

Miss Reeve said: “I am really saddened that this has happened.

“I want to make sure all my customers know it was not done maliciously or deliberately."