Shop loses license after violent brawl over alleged shoplifting

A shop in Goodmayes, Ilford has been barred from selling alcohol after a “large brawl” left three men in hospital with serious injuries.

Eastwood Off-Licence and General Store at 821 High Road, Goodmayes, trading as a Premier, lost its licence to sell alcohol earlier this month after the violent incident at about 12:45am on 10th April.

A Redbridge Council licensing committee found that the brawl involved the shop’s licensee Gurvinder Darar, 25, his friends and “several unknown males”.

The shop’s licence to sell alcohol between 6am and 1:30am has now been permanently revoked as the committee decided that Gurvinder “failed to promote the prevention of crime and disorder”.

Although the committee was held in private due to legal concerns, a statement from the Metropolitan Police published online said officers on the scene found one victim “completely saturated with blood” from a head wound.

The police allege that Gurvinder and shopkeeper Pranav Prathapan were in the shop when an argument broke out with the three “victims” who say they were accused of shoplifting.

The statement, written soon after the incident, added: “During this mass brawl, bottles have also been used as weapons causing serious injuries.

“The licensee has been identified as a suspect for the GBH whilst two others made off prior to police arrival.”

The police also told the committee that officers found a “large bag of cannabis” in the shop basement.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Three men were taken to hospital for treatment. None were in a life-threatening condition.

“Two men – aged 25 and 48 – were arrested in connection with the investigation. They have been bailed pending ongoing enquiries.”

The store has been contacted for comment.