A SHOPKEEPER who plied a schoolgirl with drink and sexually assaulted her has lost his right to sell alcohol.

Hyndburn licensing justices decided Tahir Mohammed was not a fit and proper person to have an off-licence.

Licensing officer Sgt Brian Hopwood told the licensing session at Hyndburn Magistrates court: "When Mr Mohammed was 18 he convinced me and the court he would cope with a licence, with the backing of his family. But within the last 12 months he has found himself before the courts.

"He has three previous convictions for public order offences. He has just been sent to prison for a more serious offence of indecent assault.

Sgt Hopwood added: "Part of the evidence was that he plied a 13-year-old girl with alcohol prior to committing this offence."

The bench heard Mohammed's brother was going to apply for a licence for the shop in Princess Street, Accrington.

Mohammed, 25, of Royds Street, Accrington, was jailed for 12 months in March at Burnley Crown Court.

He had denied two charges of indecent assault but was convicted by a jury who heard he took the girl to the flat above the shop and gave her alcohol before committing the offences.

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