A man has been jailed after licensing officers carrying out a routine check at a shop uncovered a stash of drugs and weapons.

Udish Ramparsad, 33, has been locked up for eight months after police found a baseball bat, a knife and 87 packages of cannabis at Chatham Food and Wine.

In July last year, police visited the High Street shop and Ramparsad, of Bullbanks Road, Belvedere, was arrested. He was bailed while officers carried out further investigations.

In October last year, Ramparsad was charged with possessing cannabis with intent to supply, possessing a knife in a public place and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

He pleaded guilty to the charges when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on February 12, and he has been sentenced to eight months in prison.

Kent Police has since received an application for a new premises licence for the shop but this has been turned down. The store had its license revoked in August last year after Kent Police requested a review because of concerns.

The council’s licensing hearing panel met on Tuesday, March 1, and turned down the fresh application to start selling alcohol at the store again.

PC Clare Cossar, licensing officer at Kent Police, said: “Whilst the majority of premises take their responsibility of promoting the licensing objectives seriously, there are a minority who do not adhere to the conditions of their licence.

“We will continue to request licence reviews of those premises found not working towards ensuring public safety and preventing crime and nuisance behaviour.

“The former owner of Chatham Food and Wine store is now behind bars after he was found to have committed serious offences and as a consequence the premise’s licence was revoked.

“We will continue to work closely with licensed premises to help reduce crime and disorder and ensure that customers’ safety is not put at risk.”