Shop selling illegal tobacco has licence revoked

A convenience store that sold illegal tobacco products has had its alcohol licence revoked.

7 Days Trowbridge, located at 6 & 7 Wicker Hill in the town, was issued with a four-week closure order by Salisbury magistrates on 19 June.

At a hearing on 10 July, a Wiltshire Council licensing sub-committee decided to revoke the business' premises licence, deeming that the owner had failed to comply with his obligations to prevent crime and disorder and ensure public safety.

The convenience store, operated by Hawkar Mohamed, opened in 2022 and has been the subject of repeated investigations.

Licensing officers told committee members that there had been a repeated pattern of non-compliance with tobacco control legislation.

The sub-committee heard since September 2022, Trading Standards officers have seized illegal disposable vapes, counterfeit tobacco products, and large sums of cash from the premises.

The licence holder, 7 Days Trowbridge Ltd, had also failed to update their registered address and had extended the premises into an adjoining property – 6 Wicker Hill – without contacting the licensing authority.

The holder had also failed to comply with a previous suspension of the premises licence.

In April, Wiltshire Police officers stopped a man pulling a suitcase near the premises.

He was found with hundreds of packets of illicit tobacco, over £1,200 in cash. He claimed to be staying at the shop.

A subsequent search of the premises by the police uncovered more illegal tobacco and more than £3,000 in cash.

Councillor Paul Sample, cabinet member for environment, climate and waste, said that the council had acted in response to the repeated breaches of the law.

"Despite a number of warnings and enforcement, illegal activity has continued," he said.

"It was felt by the sub-committee that there were serious concerns about the business adhering to licensing objectives, leading to the revoking of the licence."

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