Home >> Customer care >> News from Nottingham City Homes >> News feed >> Couple lose licence after under age sales (NCC release)

Couple lose licence after under age sales (NCC release)

A couple found guilty of selling alcohol to a 14 year old have been ordered to pay 1,030 pounds and both lost their personal alcohol licence.

Mrs Sushma Bharadwaj, 57 and Mr Ashok Bharadwaj, 61 of Camelot Avenue appeared at Nottingham Magistrates Court on the 24th January 2011 and were both fined £250 each for the offence.

During a Community Protection Trading Standards operation on the 26th January 2010, an employee of the Bharadwaj's sold a bottle of WKD Original Vodka Iron Bru to a 14 year old female. The employee made no attempt to ask for identification.

A hearing in November 2010 saw Mr and Mrs Bharadwaj's premises licence revoked for Arnold Road Off Licence on Arnold Road, with the hearing on the 26th January 2011 called to prosecute the couple for these criminal offences.

Pete Mitchell, Head of Licensing for Community Protection sais:

As this was a serious offence, the court felt that Mrs Bharadwaj's licence must be forfeited. They concluded that Mrs Bharadwaj had a complete lack of control and no effective systems in place at the premises which meant there had been a significant failure in the duty expected of them under the Licensing Act 2003. The court did not make an order for forfeiture in the case of Mr Bharadwaj, but noted that he had surrendered his Personal Licence.

Neither Mr or Mrs Bharadwaj are permitted to sell alcohol from any premises until such time that they re-apply for a personal licence.

In 2009 Mr and Mrs Bharadwaj were found guilty of selling alcohol to a minor and had their premises licence revoked for ASB News on Mansfield Road.

Mr Mitchell also said:

Licensing legislation is in place to protect our communities and we are pleased with this result. Mr and Mrs Bharadwaj will no longer be able to trade and both have a criminal record for selling alcohol to children.

In passing sentence the Magistrates remarked that the offence committed by Mr and Mr and Mrs Bharadwaj was a serious offence and one which was of grave danger to society.

(Thursday 10 February 2011 09:00:00 GMT)

Read all the latest news from Nottingham City Homes