A 24-hour convenience store in Tipton could lose its licence after its owner misled police during an investigation into a stolen winning lottery ticket. Best One Store, located on Market Place in Great Bridge, Tipton, was probed by West Midlands Police following allegations that a staff member took a winning ticket and failed to pay the correct prize to a customer.
Customer Underpaid by Substantial Amount
According to West Midlands Police, the victim was initially given £30 in winnings for the lottery ticket. However, they later discovered the prize should have been "substantially higher." When the customer returned to the shop to claim the correct amount, they were refused because they no longer held the ticket—the cashier had retained it during the original claim.
CCTV footage from the shop, which should have been kept for at least a month, had been recorded over just a week earlier. Police said the missing video "hampered" their investigation into the theft.
Owner Changed Story During Investigation
During the probe, the shop's licence holder and designated supervisor, Vincent Shaanmugarajah Thamilnesan, initially told officers he was not the owner and could not access the CCTV footage. When the same officers returned a week later, he changed his story and admitted he was the owner. He then claimed the footage had been recorded over a week earlier.
Sandwell Council’s licensing enforcement officer expressed "serious concerns" about the shop and urged councillors to consider revoking the licence. The council’s licensing committee is scheduled to meet on June 30 to review the licence.
Additional Violations Found
Beyond the lottery incident, the shop was inspected by council licensing enforcement officers. They found that Mr. Thamilnesan had not displayed the licence in the shop and was not available—alongside staff training documents—for inspection when requested.
West Midlands Police said the missing CCTV footage had "hampered" their investigation into the missing lottery ticket. The case highlights the importance of proper record-keeping and honesty in licensing compliance.
