Normanton shop Polski Slep denied permission to sell alcohol despite new owner's plea

A large stash of illegal tobacco was found under the counter at Polski Slep, in Normanton, at the end of last year.

The store has since been taken over by a new owner, 26 year-old Mateusz Skibinski, who says he wants a chance prove he can provide a responsible service to the town.

But he was denied a new alcohol licence at a hearing on Monday, after police expressed concerns about the presence of Mr Skibinski's wife, who works with him at Polski Slep.

She had worked at the store when the illicit tobacco was being sold in 2019, but she denies any wrongdoing or involvement with the sales.

The hearing was told she was interviewed under caution at a police station earlier this year, but never charged with any offence.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Skibinski said he was disappointed by the decision.

"I was really surprised I didn't get the licence," he said.

"I partly understand the reasons why, but I feel I've been held responsible for the faults of the previous owner.

"My wife wasn't involved in what happened before. She didn't go to court. I don't really know what they expect me to do about that.

"I know what's happened before, but I'm the new owner and I want to improve everything.

"I will try to provide a good service for the community. That's my plan now."

Mr Skibinski told the hearing he would comply with licensing rules, run a Challenge 25 policy on ID and ensure the area outside the premises was clean and tidy.

Normanton Town Council had claimed beforehand that the alleyway running alongside the shop was a "hotspot" for drug-taking and anti-social behaviour.

In response, Mr Skibinski said the snicket had been gated off by the previous owner when issues arose and that there is now no public access to it. Wakefield Council's licensing team confirmed that was the case.

But both the police and the local authority said they lacked "confidence" in Mr Skibinski, given his wife's links to the previous regime.

They also said they'd not received important documentation proving there'd been a change of ownership, though the applicant said he'd sent it, and claimed the new manager had failed to fully engage with them during the process.

Council licensing officer Paul Dean said the authorities had "no alternative" to registering an objection.

He said: "Unfortunately I've heard nothing from Mr Skibinski today that's given me any confidence that, if a licence was granted, we wouldn't be looking at similar issues that we had at the premises before.

"We'd have to deal with again, irresponsible alcohol sales or we may get wind of (illegal) cigarettes being made available again.

"There is the previous history with his wife. She was heavily involved, though we don't know to what level."

A panel of three councillors said they were disappointed by Mr Skibinski's "lack of engagement with the authorities".

In its ruling to reject the licence application, they said they were "Also aware of the revocation of the licence in March, which weighs heavily in this decision, given there was criminal activity at the premises."

Local Democracy Reporting Service