Rogue booze trader finally barred

But he appealed and, with rules allowing him to continue trading before any appeal is heard, he was able to continue selling alcohol, having renamed the shop Sunny Food and Wine, much to the concern of residents who said his business was a magnate for anti social behaviour.

Legal hold-ups mean the appeal date kept getting put back, but last week Staines Magistrates finally heard the case and dismissed his case.

Mr Masih was also ordered to pay the council £641.75 in costs within 28 days.
Licensing Committee chairman Robin Sider, who had earlier branded the law an "ass" because of the hold-ups, said: "I am very pleased that this appeal has been dismissed. We will not tolerate alcohol being sold to under age persons and will always take action when we learn of this happening".

Mr Masih had earlier told the Informer his father, Wilson, the owner, would sell the shop were it to lose the appeal.

The council confirmed it has received enquiries from interested parties regarding taking over the premises, but said it had warned them the application process would not be easy in light of the unit's troubled history.