A court has upheld a decision to take away the premises licence for a off-licence in Burnt Oak.

Burnt Oak Off-Licence in Burnt Oak Broadway was investigated and it was found alcohol had been sold to a minor and a non UK national without permission to work was working in store.

Police also seized non-duty paid alcohol and tobacco, and the review of the store's licence was subsequently heard by Barnet Council's licensing committee on May 23 last year.

Licence holder and premises owner, Thiyagarajah Kanthakumar, appealed the decision and brought evidence to Willesden Magistrates' Court on February 27 this year, and further evidence was given by the Barnet licensing officer and Barnet Police licensing officer before it was decided to uphold the original decision.

The court also ordered that £2,000 in costs be paid to the London Borough of Barnet.

Sergeant Jane Tuffin, of Barnet Police, said: "It is thanks to the perseverance and dedication of the police, council and HMRC that we have been able to prevent this premises from cheating the public purse any further.

"To engage in these practices allows the business to undercut their local competitors, producing a corruptive business environment.

"The quality of the tobacco and alcohol from unregulated brands is often of very poor quality comprising of hazardous materials, presenting an increased risk to health."

She added that it was thanks to a partnership between Barnet Police, Barnet Council, HMRC and Immigration Services that his outcome was achieved, and any business found to be enabling crime will be dealt with "robustly."