Pompey Food & Wine three month closure order granted after "wilful refusal to stop illegal trading"
The shutters of a Portsmouth convenience store will remain closed for three months after the court said the owner showed a "wilful refusal to stop illegal trading".
Portsmouth Magistrates Court have now granted a Closure Order for three months after hearing that the owner, Kaiwan Osman Hama Khorsheed, has been repeatedly warned by Trading Standards regarding criminal activity.
As well as selling illegal products, evidence was also provided that the shop had sold tobacco and vapes to children as young as 12. A post on Portsmouth Trading Standards social media revealed what the ruling magistrates said at the hearing.
They said: “We have listened very hard to what has been said and have looked at the evidence and take it that goods were sold in store with sales to underage children. We are satisfied that criminal activity and a public nuisance exists and that the local authority has tried to engage with the business since 2023.
“You have shown a wilful refusal to stop illegal trading. Culminating in weeks after a recent seizure, you are found with a whole new batch of more fake goods. On the balance of probabilities we believe that a Closure Order is necessary.”
The shop will remain closed until March 8, 2026, with costs for the order of £622 also charged against the owner.
A Portsmouth Trading Standards Service spokesperson said: “This premises will now remain closed for a period of 3 months, with the possibility of this authority seeking to have the order extended to 6 months unless changes are made to the operations of this business.
“We will be engaging with all relevant parties connected to the premises to ensure that measures are put in place to prevent future criminal activity.”
At the hearing on Tuesday, December 9, Trading Standards presented evidence of the following criminal activity at the store: Selling illicit tobacco, selling counterfeit tobacco, selling illegal vapes and disposable vapes, and selling vapes and tobacco to children as young as 12.