Sandwell Council has revoked the premises licence for Best One Store, Market Place, Great Bridge, Tipton, after concerns over the handling of a winning National Lottery ticket and the conduct of the shop’s licence holder during police enquiries.
Licence holder gave inconsistent accounts, panel heard
The decision followed an investigation by West Midlands Police after a customer who had been given a payout of £30 on a ticket later discovered the true prize was worth £920. Officers examined whether a staff member had appropriated the higher-value ticket rather than paying the full prize to the player.
At a licensing committee hearing, members were told the shop’s designated premises supervisor, Mr Vincent Shaanmugarajah Thamilnesan, supplied differing explanations about his involvement in the incident. Committee chair Cllr Matt Lloyd said the panel had no confidence in Mr Thamilnesan’s ability to hold the 24-hour shop licence and voted to revoke it.
“[He provided] varying and differing narratives” and “several different versions” of what had happened to the winning lottery ticket.
Missing CCTV and police enquiries
West Midlands Police also reported that CCTV which should have been retained for at least a month had been recorded over early, with some footage erased more than a week before the hearing. The absence of the recordings, the force said, had hampered the investigation into the missing ticket.
During the police probe, the hearing was told, Mr Thamilnesan initially told officers he was not the shop’s owner and could not access the store’s CCTV. A week later, when interviewed again by the same investigating officers, he amended his account.
Council licensing enforcement officers told the committee they had "serious concerns" about the management of the premises and urged councillors to consider revocation.
West Midlands Police said the victim had been given £30 in winnings for the lottery ticket only to realise later the prize should have been "substantially higher."
Procedure for paying lottery prizes and local impact
Members heard that the gambling terminal displays prompts to shop staff when a ticket has won an amount that cannot be paid out over the counter. The on-screen instructions should alert the retailer to return the ticket to the customer and advise them to submit an online claim for larger prizes. Mr Thamilnesan told the committee he had not noticed these prompts.
The committee’s decision to remove the licence means the premises cannot lawfully operate under its previous authorisation until any appeal or licence reapplication is resolved. For local residents, the ruling underlines regulatory scrutiny on small retailers who handle lottery sales and the importance of maintaining CCTV and accurate records.
- Incident: Alleged theft or mishandling of a winning lottery ticket at Best One Store, Great Bridge.
- Payout discrepancy: Customer initially given £30; actual prize was £920.
- Council action: Sandwell Council revoked the shop’s premises licence after finding the licence holder’s accounts inconsistent and noting missing CCTV footage.
| Detail | Reported |
|---|---|
| Initial payout to customer | £30 |
| Actual prize value | £920 |
| CCTV retention expectation | At least one month |
| Action by council | Licence revoked |
The revocation is a reminder to retailers of their obligations when selling lottery tickets: to follow terminal instructions, preserve evidence such as CCTV and records, and to be transparent during investigations. Anyone affected by the decision — including customers who believe they were short-changed — may wish to contact West Midlands Police or Sandwell Council for further advice on next steps.
This newsroom will monitor any appeal or subsequent licensing application and report further developments.
