'Drunk' shopkeeper has alcohol licence revoked

Officers found a half-empty vodka bottle and near-empty rum bottle when they visite the store (stock image)

A shop owner has had his licence to sell alcohol revoked after police found him drunk at his store.

Lancashire Police found Kumrakulasingham Thevathas to be intoxicated and “incoherent”, when they attended his Sasda 24/7 premises in Whalley Road, Accrington on the night of 29 September.

During a hearing at Hyndburn Council this week, a police constable said he had “appeared under the influence of alcohol, unsteady on his feet, his speech was slurred, and officers could smell alcoholic intoxicants on his breath”.

“Officers then spoke to members of the public in the area who stated that Mr Thevathas is frequently under the influence and that this was normal behaviour for him.”

The shopkeeper had held the licence for only a month when he rang the police on 999 that night, with the operator reporting “several raised voices could be heard in the background shouting and swearing”.

“On arrival, the police found the licensee Mr Thevathas stood in the doorway of the premises and the officers at the scene were quickly made aware of Mr Thevathas’ intoxicated state.”

Officers also found a half-empty vodka bottle behind the till along with a three-quarters empty bottle of rum in the back of the shop.

“The attending officers then advised Mr Thevathas to close the shop and go to bed as he was incapable of running the business whilst in such an intoxicated state.”

Mr Thevathas did not challenge the revocation of the premises licence he had held since 22 August.