Shop stripped of licence to sell alcohol

A shop has been stripped of its licence to sell alcohol.

Manor Way Superstore, in Deeping St James, Lincolnshire, was transferred to new owners in June 2025, but they failed to apply for a licence, a committee meeting of South Kesteven District Council heard.

Lincolnshire Police told councillors the business had also been suspected of selling alcohol to under-18s and employing illegal workers. The allegations relate to a period when the store was owned by Kugenthiran Kugathas, and the shop has since been taken over by another owner, NN Business Ltd.

The shop's representative, Arka Licensing, told the BBC its client would not be commenting. The shop has 21 days to appeal the committee's decision.

A meeting of the alcohol, entertainment and late-night refreshment licensing committee, held on 19 May, also heard police received two reports of a shop worker making inappropriate comments to girls under 16 last November.

In a written statement, PC Katherine Braithwaite said the first allegation involved two girls under 16 who went into the shop to buy alcohol.

The worker was alleged to have said: "Only if you show me your boobs and give me your Snapchat."

Braithwaite's statement said a second report was made to police by a parent of a 14-year-old girl who entered the shop in her school uniform. A shop worker allegedly made comments "which had been interpreted as an effort to try and groom her and made the child feel uncomfortable".

Barrister Oliver Thorne, representing Lincolnshire Police, told the committee that the incidents with the girls raised "serious safeguarding concerns".

Further police checks on the shop worker, who has not been named by the force, found that he was from Sri Lanka, but there was no trace of him in police and immigration records. This raised a suspicion that he was employed illegally, the committee was told.

Police told the committee that, when questioned, the owner at the time, Kugenthiran Kugathas, said the individual was left to manage the shop alone, but was not paid and just given food and accommodation.

A second employee was found to be working illegally and the shop was suspected of selling alcohol to people under 18, councillors were told.

A report to the committee stated that Kugathas applied for an alcohol licence in November 2025, but this was withdrawn. Another was then received by Nirusan Sivatharan, which was rejected, and a third by Nivethan Sivatharan, which was withdrawn.

Following the meeting, the district council told the BBC that Kugathas no longer owned the business and it was now owned by NN Business Ltd. Documents from Companies House list Nivethan Sivatharan as the director.

In a document submitted for the committee meeting, Lincolnshire Police said the force was "not confident the licensing objectives could be upheld" by Nirusan Sivatharan or Nivethan Sivatharan. The force also "believed" Kugathas "could still be involved".

No one from the shop – now trading as Deeping Local – nor any representative attended the committee meeting.

In revoking the licence, committee chairman Paul Fellows said the shop had shown "a complete disregard for the law".

No further details on the alleged incidents with the girls were disclosed to the committee.

In a statement to the BBC after the meeting, Lincolnshire Police confirmed it received reports of two alleged incidents.

The force said: "One report was a third-hand report and no further evidential opportunities were identified. The second allegation was reviewed and was not deemed a criminal offence.

"Since the incidents reported in November, there have been no further reports of inappropriate behaviour towards girls under the age of 16 associated with the shop."

The force said there were "no ongoing investigations in relation to this matter".

Speaking after the meeting, Phil Dilks, an Independent councillor, said he was "shocked" by the allegations involving the girls and would "be asking what's happened to that person".

Dilks, who represents Deeping St James on both district and county councils, said: "If this person is an illegal immigrant, I want to know what's happened because people need to have confidence when they walk into any commercial outlet."

The Home Office has been approached for comment.

The BBC attempted to contact the current owner of the shop.

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