Staff members of a nuisance shop were caught lighting cigarettes for children.
Ormskirk Super Store was stripped of its licence to sell alcohol last week, after police, trading standards and a local councillor raised concerns about how the shop was being run. The shop was found to be selling counterfeit cigarettes and vapes repeatedly and under age shoppers were allowed to buy restricted goods.
Authorities also found that staff weren't properly trained and during a council visits multiple tests were failed. Other issues identified included missing, empty or even falsified records of alcohol sale refusals and a large kebab skewer being found behind the store, LancsLive reports.
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Those working at the Aughton Street convenience store claimed the metal stick was used to line up drinks cans on shelves but licensing officer PC Ste Connolly gave this little consideration and said it was more likely held as a weapon to intimidate anyone who tried to cause trouble. Among the many incidents uncovered during a visit was one incident in which part-owner Star Baiz lit a cigarette in the mouth of a teenage customer.
The footage was uncovered when police examined the store's own CCTV and witnessed the irresponsible act. Not only are the customers under age, it is against the law to smoke inside the shop and to sell loose cigarettes.
Mr Baiz is listed with Companies House as the sole director of the company but Farhad Salehi, the premises licence holder, told West Lancashire Borough Council's licensing sub-committee that it was actually himself who was responsible for the business. According to Mr Salehi, Mr Baiz has a 25% 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."
After a six hour hearing on Tuesday, the 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.
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."
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