Fake Yellowtail wine risks shop’s licence

A shop owner who was selling counterfeit wine has asked councillors for “a second chance to put things right” but police say they have no confidence in the management of the premises.

In June, police officer Chris Jones found what he suspected to be counterfeit Yellow Tail wine at Select Xpress convenience store on Warwick Road in Acocks Green.

After entering the shop to ask management for CCTV footage for an unrelated investigation, he noticed the bottles in the fridge which were marked with known, fake codes.

A follow up inspection on June 21 uncovered 24 bottles which the Yellow Tail company confirmed were counterfeits.

The wine was found not to be harmful, but was of a lower quality than the genuine product.

In addition, several licence breaches were uncovered by licensing enforcement, including a lack of staff training, especially in relation to selling alcohol and training about Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE).

There were also inadequate CCTV recordings and signage, as well as single beer cans for sale, no register of alcohol sale refusals, and no list of people who cause issues.

Councillors on the licensing sub-committee met this morning to hear from Mr Rajiny Harykaran who has owned the business since May 14.

The shop licence was transferred to his wife on this date, from previous licence holder Mr Vanniyasingam Gunaseelan.

Representations were also heard from Trading Standards, West Midlands Police, and licensing enforcement.

Mr Harykaran’s legal representative, Mr Naja Ragesh said: “We are not here to give you any excuse regarding what happened on June 21 2022; my client is accepting his responsibility.

“He is not responsible for this licence or the premises conditions before [May 14 2022].

“Chair, this is his livelihood, his family depends on this business.

“He is kindly asking you for a second chance to put things right.”

PC Mark Swallow of West Midlands Police said: “The evidence submitted by Trading Standards quite clearly shows that this premises was supplying counterfeit wine, selling it to the public, passing it off as a legitimate product.

“Traders acting unscrupulously, purchasing counterfeit alcohol, possibly off the back of a lorry, cannot have an idea where the alcohol has originated from, or even if it’s fit for human consumption.

“Luckily in this case the wine was not harmful to the public, but that’s more by luck than judgement on behalf of the premises.

“West Midlands Police has no confidence in the management of these premises.”

Under the shop’s previous ownership, tip offs were made claiming the shop was selling counterfeit Embassy gold cigarettes, and Jack Daniels which “did not seem right”, in January and February respectively.

A follow up inspection found the bourbon to be genuine, but the Local Democracy Reporting Service has not seen confirmation about the cigarettes.

In March, two men who had overstayed their visas were found living in the shop’s tiny storeroom and were detained by immigration officers.

Licensing sub-committee chair, Councillor Phil Davies asked Mr Harykaran if he had a prior relationship to the previous owner.

Mr Harykaran said he met Mr Gunaseelan during the process of purchasing the shop, and they were introduced via a mutual friend.