An east Reading food store lost its booze licence after an illegal worker was found by Home Office enforcement earlier this year.

Officers found a man working at MAP Food and Wine with no right to work in the UK and no authorisation to sell alcohol.

The application was objected to by the Home Office immigration team, Thames Valley Police (TVP) and Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) licensing team.

TVP officer Declan Smyth said: “The licence holder is exploiting potentially vulnerable people and engaging in a multitude of criminal offences by employing them at the licensed premises.

“Allowing this premises to continue operate with the benefit of a premises licence will merely serve to perpetuate the criminal activity and human exploitation already apparent.”

Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) licensing committee revoked the licence on Thursday, December 6.

The licensing team visited the store with Home Office enforcement on June 9, where they found the illegal worker working alone.

He said he had been working part-time at the store for two years, for around 16-20 hours, and was paid £100 a week: around £5-£6.25 per hour.

At the hearing, the licence holder twice failed to state what the minimum wage is.

Shop owner Sanmeet Singh Kapoor faces a fine of up to £20,000 for employing an illegal worker.

Ten other licensing breaches were found on the June inspection, including staff training and lack of CCTV, with ‘almost identifical’ breaches found on two further visits in August and September.

MAP Food and Wine has 21 days to appeal the decision and can continue its licensable activity until that period ends or an appeal is determined.

A member of staff said the owner 'does not care' about losing the licence and will not be appealing.

He said: "It is not a big deal. We can sell normal groceries after."

Revocation of a premises licence means a business cannot engage in any licensing activities, which includes showing a film or theatrical performance.