Juicy Gossip takeaway owner fined £5,000 for serving food without a license after 11pm in Leeds

Mr Mahboob Hussain, who owns the Lower Briggate fast food shop, was taken to court for allowing hot food to be served without having the correct type of license.

Restaurants who want to serve between 11pm and 5am need a specific type of 'Premises Licence' or 'Temporary Event Notice' authorised by Leeds Council.

Juicy Gossip had submitted an application to the council for a temporary event last year but it was rejected after a hearing in March 2019 after police raised concerns about crime.

Investigations into Juicy Gossip's unauthorised hot food sales began in March 2018 when Leeds Council's Entertainment Licensing team received a complaint.

On receipt of the complaint a warning letter was sent to Mr Hussain by Entertainment Licensing enforcement officers.

It advised him that he must cease selling hot food after 11pm until a licence was in place.

Between March 2018 and December 2018 officers from the West Yorkshire Police & council officers conducted undercover test purchases on two separate occasions.

On each occasion hot food was purchased by officers.

Officers also attended on two further occasions identifying themselves and found the premises operating beyond their permitted hours.

Following the positive test purchases officers wrote warning letters to Mr Hussain informing him of their findings.

They advised him to cease providing late night hot refreshment after 11pm.

Mr Hussain was also advised that his premises would continue to be monitored for compliance by entertainment licensing enforcement officers and the police.

On Thursday, January 23 2020, Mr Hussain was found guilty of breaching the Licensing Act 2003.

He was fined £5000, ordered to pay costs of £3000 and a £170 victims’ surcharge.

A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: "It is crucial that takeaways and other businesses within the Leeds area are aware of the various licences they need for their premises if they choose to undertake certain activities.

"In this case, Mr Hussain was warned on numerous occasions that he was not complying with the conditions on his licence, and was given opportunities to rectify the situation, which he failed to do.

"This conviction shows how important it is for businesses to have the right licences for their premises."