CCTV captured the bizarre moment a brazen shop worker lit up a cigarette for one of his underage customers.
The incident happened at nuisance convenience store Ormskirk Super Store in Lancashire, which was stripped of its alcohol licence last week, Lancashire Live reports. The footage was uncovered when police examined the store's own CCTV cameras after officers, trading standards and a local councillor raised a catalogue of concerns about practices in the shop.
The footage shows a part-owner of the store leaning over the counter to light a youngster's cigarette after handing him one from a packet. Not only is it illegal to sell underage customers cigarettes, but it is also against the law to smoke inside a shop and sell loose cigarettes.
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The investigation into the store found a litany of failings, including that counterfeit cigarettes and vapes were repeatedly stocked, staff weren't properly trained, and people clearly underage were allowed to buy restricted goods. Other issues identified included missing, empty or even falsified records of alcohol sale refusals.
A large kebab skewer was also found behind the store on Aughton Street. Staff claimed the metal stick was used to line up drinks cans on shelves but licensing officer PC Ste Connolly said it was more likely held as a weapon to intimidate anyone who tried to cause trouble.
After a six-hour hearing on Tuesday, West Lancashire Borough Council's licensing sub-committee decided to revoke the shop's licence entirely. The revocation has a 21-day appeal to the magistrates' court so the shop can submit an appeal and still continue to sell alcohol until any appeal is heard.
Star Baiz was identified as the man seen lighting a cigarette in a teenager's mouth. Mr Baiz is listed with Companies House as the sole director of the company but Farhad Salehi, the premises licence holder, told the sub-committee that it was actually himself who was responsible for the business.
According to Mr Salehi, Mr Baiz has a 25 per cent stake and rarely works in the shop. Mr Salehi later also said he had sacked all the staff from the shop and accused them of bringing the counterfeit goods to the store without his permission.
He was unable to explain why the illegal goods were also found in his home and car and when asked if he had also sacked Mr Baiz, he replied: "No."
Cllr Gareth Dowling, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Community Safety which oversees Licensing said: "I made clear at the licence hearing last February and again this week, that the presence of a convenience shop such as this in the town centre is both welcome and encouraged. However, the issue of selling cigarettes, counterfeit cigarettes, nicotine products and alcohol to children is of great concern to me and the residents who have contacted me about this.
"It was clear last February and before, that there was no regard for either the law or the health of the people of West Lancashire, and in particular children. I called at that time for stronger measures to be taken, however, the committee at the time was limited in what action it could take. It is clear, from the continuous, repeated and additional breaches such as now selling alcohol to children, that this premises can no longer continue to operate with licences to sell alcohol or cigarettes.
"If the shop was interested in abiding by the rules, then the appropriate training would have been introduced and adherence to the rules would have been enforced, as Mr Salehi indicated he would at the last hearing and has also indicated on email to the council. However, it is quite clear from the suite of evidence that the more the shop is investigated, the more breaches that are found and flagrant disregard to the law and licensing conditions and objectives.
"I urged the committee to take the strongest possible action available to them and I believe this revocation is just that. We have a duty of care to our residents whom we are elected to serve, and particularly children. The health and protection of the people of West Lancashire must outweigh the loss of this shop from the high street, but I do hope a more responsible business owner will take over and continue to have a town centre shop on the high street here."
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