Boozy teens cost Accrington shop its licence

11:56am Friday 16th May 2008

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A CORNER shop has been banned from selling booze indefinitely after police said it repeatedly' sold alcohol to underage teenagers.

Hyndburn Council decided to strip the licence of K's Convenience, Bold Street, Accrington, after residents and police said the area was plagued by teenagers damaging property and intimidating neighbours.

The licensing sub-committee found the off-licence "repeatedly" sold alcohol to underage teenagers, sold alcohol before and after licensed hours and sold alcohol without a licensed supervisor on the premises.

Police officers who gave evidence said it had a "knock-on effect" on the area and that the store-front had to be repeatedly policed.

The committee considered evidence in the form of letters from residents who wanted the licence revoked, as well as those who said they supported the store.

But opposition leader of the council, Coun Graham Jones, queried evidence put forward by shop owner, Asif Jarved, as one of the letters came from Coun Jones' own address in Hodder Street.

He told the meeting: "Many of these letters are from people who are not listed on the electoral roll, suggesting they are under age - other address are up to two miles away."

PC Les Sholicar, who put in the application, told the committee the store had failed a test purchase, by selling two bottles of WKD to a 15-year-old volunteer. The male cashier was fined £80 for selling booze to the girl "without any questions", the meeting heard.

He added: "On speaking to the youths they openly admit they buy alcohol from this store as it is so easy."

Defending Mr Javed, Basil Dearing conceded Mr Javed was "not capable" of managing the store properly as he had other businesses to attend to.

He said many of the problems arose after Mr Javed appointed a "young man" as a manager, who is no longer employed at the store.

The decision means Mr Javed will lose around £1,250 a week in sales.