A Mansfield convenience store is facing a potential loss of its alcohol licence after nearly 5,000 counterfeit cigarettes, some found to contain mould, were seized from behind the till.
A report prepared for a licensing panel at Mansfield District Council outlines an application to review the premises licence for Leeming Lane Stores, 196–198 Leeming Lane, Mansfield, following enforcement action by Nottinghamshire Trading Standards.
The hearing is scheduled for Monday 20 April and will be held under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 after a formal representation was submitted by Trading Standards, requiring the council to determine the future of the licence.
According to the report, Trading Standards were alerted in January 2026 after a person who had purchased a packet of Winston cigarettes from the store was admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties. The cigarettes were handed over for investigation, prompting further action at the premises.
On 14 January, officers seized 4,895 cigarettes along with hand-rolling tobacco from a concealed space beneath shelving in the till area. The goods, with an estimated value of £3,810, were later confirmed to be counterfeit or otherwise illegal for sale in the UK, breaching trademark and consumer protection laws.
The report states that some of the Winston-branded cigarettes contained mould, and that the concealment of the stock suggests those operating the business were aware the items were unlawful.
Leeming Lane Stores holds a premises licence permitting the sale of alcohol between set hours, typically from 8am to 11pm on weekdays and slightly reduced hours on Sundays and certain holidays. The licence is held by Mr Masood Karimi, of Rotherham.
The licensing panel has a range of options available when determining the review. These include taking no action, modifying licence conditions, suspending the licence for up to three months, removing the designated premises supervisor, or revoking the licence entirely.
Under national guidance, the use of licensed premises for criminal activity — including the sale or storage of smuggled tobacco — is treated particularly seriously. In such cases, councils are advised to consider revocation even at the first review where it is necessary to promote the objective of preventing crime and disorder.
The council’s role in the hearing is not to determine criminal guilt, which remains a matter for the courts, but to assess whether the operation of the premises undermines licensing objectives and what action is required to protect the wider community.
The report also notes that a response from the licence holder was submitted earlier this month and will be considered as part of the hearing process.
For local residents, the outcome of the review will determine whether alcohol sales can continue at the store and under what conditions, with wider implications for community safety and confidence in local enforcement against illicit goods.
The panel’s decision is expected following the hearing on 20 April.
