A notorious Bradford shop used a hidden pipe and pulley system to transport nitrous oxide canisters from a neighbouring storage building – a meeting was told.
There have also been mass brawls outside the business, and in one instance a customer was allegedly beaten unconscious by someone from the shop.
In August, police were granted a three-month closure notice for a row of business units on Great Horton Road.
They included Jimmy’s off licence, a neighbouring business called Great Horton Road Shop and a storage unit.
Jimmy's heavily linked to sale of Nitrous Oxide
On Tuesday, Bradford Council’s Licensing Panel revoked the alcohol licence for Jimmy’s after hearing it was heavily linked to the sale of Nitrous Oxide and counterfeit cigarettes.
The licence review had been called by West Yorkshire Police, and at the meeting PC Kevin Lord listed the numerous crimes linked to the premises in the past few months.
The current licence holder for the business is Ali Ahmadi Mustafa, and the business operated by Jimmy Off Licence 3 Ltd, whose sole director is Mr Omer Morad.
No one from the business was present at the meeting.
'No stranger to this panel'
At the meeting PC Lord told the panel that Mr Mustafa had been licence holder for the shop since March.
Referring to Mr Morad, PC Lord said: “He is no stranger to this licensing panel.
"His personal licence had previously been revoked by Leeds Council following a conviction for offences.
“He has tried twice to transfer his licence to another person – both times it has been withdrawn.
“It is clear he remains in control of the day to day running of the business.”
He then gave members a lengthy list of incidents linked to the store.
(Image: T&A)
57 boxes of Nitrous Oxide found
PC Lord said: “On April 19, there was a report that the shopkeeper was throwing a bottle at a vehicle following an altercation.
“On June 5, officers attended 97 Great Horton Road and observed individuals unloading boxes into a side store room. Arrests were made at the time. A concealed drainpipe linked this side store room to behind the shop counter in the neighbouring store. There was a rope with a pulley system.
“It allowed goods to be covertly supplied to customers.
“57 boxes of Nitrous Oxide, 550 packets of illicit tobacco and other alcohol and cigarettes were seized. Cash was hidden in ceiling tiles.”
The panel was told that police also seized “medical products” that were not licenced to be sold in the UK, including oral jelly.
The people arrested were released on bail.
'Highly organised pre-planned operation'
CCTV revealed a “substantial quantity of Nitrous Oxide being transferred through the concealed pipe system – numerous times a day.”
PC Lord said: “This is a highly organised pre-planned operation.”
On June 25, police and HMRC raided the store and seized nonduty paid alcohol and other stores.
PC Lord said: “On June 28, there were reports of 15 individuals fighting outside the premises. There were groups of males jumping over vehicles. This is an example of disorder associated with the premises.
“A week later, we received intelligence that Jimmy’s had received a substantial delivery of Smart Whip.”
On July 8, police visited the site, and saw a man running from the scene. Four boxes of nitrous oxide were found in a bin storage area to the rear of the shop.
In another incident, police received a report from an injured man. He told officers he had bought a product in the store and was sat outside when an “individual from the shop” ran out of the business and “attacked him without provocation.”
PC Lord said: “He dragged him to the side of the shop and continued attacking him. He suffered a broken finger and lost consciousness at one point.
“A suspect was arrested and has been released on bail.”
When investigating officers asked to see the store’s CCTV, footage from the relevant period had been deleted.
Incidents continue
Taking a brief pause from reeling off incidents, PC Lord told the panel “this is the brief version I’m giving you.”
He continued: “On July 21, there was another violent disorder.
“At 1.30am multiple males with weapons were seen outside the premises.”
When police arrived, officers found broken bottles, chairs and broom handles in the street. Some men linked to the shop remained at the scene.
Once again, store CCTV for the period of the incident had been deleted. While investigating, police found a man serving customers in the store whose immigration status prevented him from working.
'They will do whatever they can to keep trading'
PC Lord said: “Despite repeated enforcement action there is ongoing criminal activity linked to this shop, and linked to organised crime. The store has continued to flout the law until it was closed.”
Summing up the police’s request to revoke the licence, he said: “I really can’t see any other way this issue can be dealt with. There have been so many designated premises supervisors and management changes.
“You can’t put conditions on the licence – they are making so much money from this business they will do whatever they can to keep trading.”
After a brief deliberation, members voted to revoke the licence.
After the meeting West Yorkshire Police confirmed that there was an ongoing criminal investigation into the possession with intent to supply Class C drugs.
Two men arrested have been released under investigation.