New Sleaford restaurant owner gets to keep licence

Tiamo restaurant in Sleaford - under new ownership. EMN-181030-121820001

Samantha Pavlou successfully convinced North Kesteven District Council’s licensing committee and police that she had no connection to the previous owner of Tiamo Italian Restaurant, Fathi Zureiqi.

Zureiqi was jailed for 18 months in August after he was convicted of tax evasion totalling £175,000.

Ms Pavlou has since taken over the Sleaford Market Place premises and transferred the licence to her name.

Sgt Kim Enderby, from Lincolnshire Police, told the committee police had carried out all scrutiny on the transfer of the licence, which had taken place after the review was applied for and that the force would not be pursuing action.

He said: “Any circumstances where there is a transfer of businesses we will scrutinise to the ensure it is a legitimate transfer of the business.”

He said Ms Pavlou had provided paperwork in support of her business being legitimate.

“The paperwork has made us satisfied that this is legitimate, she has the lease on her own name, we have done all the checks and we are happy she has no connection either previously or still existing with the previous owner of the business.”

Committee chairman Coun Ian Carrington told Mr Pavlou: “It is accepted this is a completely clean start and the committee wish you well in your enterprise going forward.”

However, a licence for a second restaurant, known as Tiamo Pizza, in North Hykeham which Mr Zureiqi still currently holds, will be revoked.

“I believe the conviction shows illegal criminal activity and the fact the license holder is in prison shows he hasn’t upheld the licensing objectives. If he was applying for one he wouldn’t get it so why should he keep it,” said Sgt Enderby.

Officers from Lincolnshire Police argued that the owner, referring to Mr Zureiqi, had failed to prevent crime and disorder.

When Mr Zureiqi was jailed, Lincoln Crown Court was told t he had failed to declare takings of almost £400,000 over a period of three years.

Zureiqi, 48, of St Catherines, Lincoln, admitted evasion of VAT between November 3, 2011 and May 1, 2016.

He also admitted evasion of income tax between April 5, 2011 and April 6, 2014.

He had run the North Hykeham pizza restaurant and takeaway was operated by Mr Zureiqi from November 2010. The Sleaford restaurant was operated by him from May 2014.